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CNN-News18 has accessed govt document that details a plan of ITBP to bring on board a consultant at cost of Rs 1.25 crore to prepare design for a BOP for high-altitude regions
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel celebrate the Republic Day at a 17000-ft-high snow-clad field in Ladakh. (PTI File)
It has taken decades, but Indian jawans posted at the India-China LAC border from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh will now get modern border outposts. They will be climate resilient to survive the temperatures that drop to minus 45°C in the winters at a height of almost 19,000 feet.
CNN-News18 has accessed a government document that details a plan of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to bring on board a consultant at a cost of Rs 1.25 crore to prepare the design of a Border Outpost (BOP) for extreme climate and high-altitude regions.
ITBP serves in the most challenging terrain and harsh climatic conditions, in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, which necessitate the requirement of climate resilient BOP.
The idea is simple — provide comfortable living conditions in the challenging and inhospitable terrain, and enhance the operational effectiveness, rapid deployment capability, and well-being of the troops, says the document.
The BOPs will have integrated Heating, Ventilated and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems along with incorporation of renewable energy solutions (solar/wind) for energy efficiency to minimise reliance on fossil fuels.
Most of the ITBP BOPs are located in the most inaccessible and high-altitude areas, ranging from 9,000 feet to 18,800 feet above sea level. The weather conditions in these areas are extremely harsh with temperatures dropping to -45°C in winters.
The idea is to have a modern construction methodology suited to high-altitude for “rapid construction and ease of transportation to far-flung areas”, says the document. The government is also looking at sub-ground bunkers and utility areas for natural insulation and structural stability to withstand heavy snow and seismic activity.
ITBP’s BOPs are both at the company level and platoon level with authorised strength of 128 and 40 men, respectively. Water freezing problems are experienced in winter at most ITBP BOPs. Some BOPs are not connected with road and transportation of man and materials through foot track.
India has been constantly upgrading its border infrastructure on the LAC since the Doklam and Galwan stand-offs in 2017 and 2020, respectively.
Aman Sharma, Executive Editor – National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister’s Office….Read More
Aman Sharma, Executive Editor – National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister’s Office…. Read More
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