Article Posted on : - Oct 14, 2011

NEW DELHI (PTI): Army personnel posted in high altitude areas along the China and Pakistan borders will soon be shifted to better shelters equipped with facilities like central heating system and hot water supply.

Following the successful completion of pilot project, launched last year by Defence Minister A K Antony, the army engineers have started constructing fibre-glass accommodations for the troops posted in high altitude areas beyond 14,000 feet.

"These accommodations would be equipped with generators and facilities like central heating system, hot water, bio- digesters and insulated material to preserve heat in extremely cold climates. In another two years, all the posts in high altitude areas will have these shelters," an army official said Thursday.

The issue of providing better and comfortable accommodations to the troops posted in difficult areas was discussed by top commanders during the ongoing Army Commanders Conference here.

"It is going to be a big morale booster for the troops. It will significantly reduce the cases of chilblain and exposure to extremely low temperature," the official said.

The light-weight and pre-fabricated shelters have been designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation keeping in mind the logistics requirement of army units.

Facilities like bio-digesters and hot water availability will further improve the hygiene standards of troops.