Lok Sabha Question No. 2184 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-11
Subject: Clothing for High Altitude Areas
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, ASADUDDIN OWAISI, DHARMENDRA YADAV, ANANDRAO  ADSUL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2184

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 TH  DECEMBER, 2015

## CLOTHING FOR HIGH ALTITUDE AREAS

2184.

SHRI  SHRIRANGAPPA BARNE:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the Government has taken steps for meeting the requirement of uniform / clothes of defence personnel employed in super high altitude areas like Siachen, Drass, Kargil and North-Eastern States;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof along with the total number of defence personnel lost their lives in Siachen Glacier due to cold weather and other accidents;
- (c)  whether uniform / clothes of soldiers deployed in such areas are being imported at present;
- (d)  if so, the details thereof along with the expenditure incurred thereon during the last three years and the current year; and
- (e)  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  for  upgradation,  indigenization  of uniform / clothes and replacement of imported clothes for defence personnel deployed in such areas?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE

(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

j{kk jkT; ea=h

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(a)  In  order  to  fast  track  procurement  of  Clothing  and  Equipments  for defence  personnal deployed in very high altitude areas like Siachen, an Empowered  Committee  under  the  chairmanship of Master General of

Ordnance  (MGO)  has  been  set  up  with  full  powers  of  Competent Financial Authority.  Special dispensation for placing 100% repeat order has also been given to the Empowered Committee.  Moreover, sufficient quantities  of  these  items  are  kept  in  reserve  in  Army  Headquarters  to avoid any shortage.

- (b)  The total number of soldiers who have died in Siachen Glacier on  OP MEGHDOOT since 1984 till date due to climatic conditions, environmental and other factors are as under:-

- (a) Officers -

33

- (b)  JCOs -

54

- (c) OR -

782

Total:

-

869

- (c)   Operational  deployment  along  the  borders  is  a  dynamic  process based on assessment of threat to the National Security.

(d) & (e):  Out  of  55  items  of  clothing  and  mountaineering  equipments, only 20 items are imported.

Details  of  Expenditure  incurred  for  the  last  three  years  including current year are as under:-

| Financial Year   |   Budget Estimates | Expenditure (Rs. in Crore)   |
|------------------|--------------------|------------------------------|
| 2012-13          |            2300    | 2280.5430                    |
| 2013-14          |            2023.34 | 1919.3100                    |
| 2014-15          |            2574.31 | 2366.5943                    |
| 2015-16          |            3332    | 938.5400*                    |

*Expenditure upto 30 th November 2015.

- (f)  Steps taken for upgradation include constant search for newer items which will  save  lives  and  increase  the  combat  efficiency  of  our  troops deployed in very high altitude areas like Siachen.  A Seminar with Indian Technical Textile Association was held in February 2015 followed up by trial  of  items  in  Siachen Glacier and sharing of trial reports with Indian Industry for further improvement to meet the stringent requirements of such areas.

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