Army builds infra for 450 tanks, 22,000 troops in Ladakh

Ponds being constructed for water

NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Amid reports of Chinese buildup across the Line of Actual Control, the Indian Army has built infrastructure for housing 450 tanks and over 22,000 troops in the Eastern Ladakh sector opposite China.
The sources said that to counter the Chinese aggressive movements in the Pangong Tso lake which is both in India and China, Indian Army’s Corps of Engineer has inducted new Landing Crafts in both Eastern Ladakh which has given a huge impetus to the patrolling capabilities and induction in men and material. The assault craft can carry 35 troops.
“Habitat and technical storage to include assets for 22,000 troops and approximately 450 A vehicles/guns have been constructed in the last two years. Focus has now shifted to undertake the construction of Permanent defences and infrastructure to improve defence preparedness in extant working season apart from completion of ongoing projects,” sources said.
Highlighting the infrastructure development being done by the Border Roads Organisation along the China border, sources said that presently nine tunnels which include a 2.535 Km long Sela tunnel, which will be the highest bi-lane tunnel in the world once completed. Eleven more tunnels are also under planning.
Meanwhile, having deployed its troops near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to prevent any misadventure from China, the Indian Army is making a large number of ponds to get fresh drinking water for the troops even in freezing winters.
“We are making a big number of ponds to cater to the water requirements of the forces deployed there. In forward locations like the Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), in Eastern Ladakh, the troops used fresh water from ponds even in freezing winters this year,” sources said.
“The water at the surface level gets frozen in extreme winters but underneath, it remains in liquid form. Our troops used the water from these ponds to meet their requirements,” they said. (Agencies)