A group of parliamentarians will visit the Ladakh sector to get first-hand information on aspects related to high-altitude clothing for soldiers, housing and rations at a time when India and China are locked in a border row and have been made efforts to reduce friction. it made no progress, officials familiar with the events said Tuesday.
Members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), headed by Congressional Deputy Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, are likely to visit Leh from Oct. 28-29, officials said.
The visit ended after Chowdhury wrote to Lok Sabha chairman Om Birla last month suggesting that the PAC visit the Ladakh sector to interact with soldiers deployed there and understand their working conditions and requirements.
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The committee is reviewing a recent report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) that had pointed out deficiencies in high-altitude clothing and equipment and the need to equip soldiers with the proper equipment.
The PAC discussed some issues related to rations and clothing with the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat, during a meeting on September 6, the officials said. At this meeting, the PAC chair asked the CDS to consider a tour for MPs to the Ladakh sector, after which Chowdhury wrote to Birla. The PAC is expected to meet on October 23 to finalize its itinerary.
In a report presented to Parliament in February, the national auditor had drawn attention to the shortage of essential equipment, clothing and rations faced by soldiers deployed in high-altitude areas such as Siachen and Ladakh.
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There was a critical shortage of snow goggles and troops did not receive multipurpose boots between November 2015 and September 2016, according to a press release issued by the CAG. However, in response to the CAG report, senior army officials said that the deficiencies had been fixed and that each soldier deployed to Siachen received equipment worth 1 lakh rupees.
Parliamentarians are likely to be briefed by senior military officials and scientists from the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) during the visit. The PAC reviews the government appropriation accounts and reports prepared by the CAG. The PAC’s Leh visit comes at a time when Indian and Chinese forces have arranged for a long tour of the East Ladakh theater.
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