New Delhi: India is quietly, albeit belatedly, taking steps to counter the massive build-up of Chinese military infrastructure all along the 4,057km Line of Actual Control.
After reactivating advanced landing grounds in eastern Ladakh (Daulat Beg Oldi, Fukche and Nyama) and ordering fortification of airstrips in Arunachal Pradesh (Pasighat, Mechuka, Walong, Tuting and Vijaynagar), defence ministry is fast-tracking infrastructure augmentation at highly-picturesque but equally-contentious Pangong Tso lake region.
Situated at an altitude of 13,900-feet in eastern Ladakh, the 134km-long Pangong Tso (Tso means lake in Ladakhi), two-third of which is controlled by China as it extends from India to Tibet, has seen a surge in Chinese intrusions in recent years.
Even this year, Army has recorded close to 100 "transgressions" of foot, motorised and boat patrols by People's Liberation Army in the strategic-located Pangong Tso area, on both north and south banks, till now.
MoD sources on Monday said Army project to procure 17 "quick-reaction team" boats for "reconnaissance and area domination patrols" in Pangong Tso, as part of the larger infrastructure augmentation, was "now being fast-tracked".
"The global tender or RFP (request for proposal) for the 17 high-speed interceptor boats has already been issued after clearance from Defence Acquisitions Council, headed by defence minister A K Antony," said a source.
These new boats, capable of carrying 16 to 18 soldiers with "high endurance", are needed since PLA has better-equipped boats which can outperform Indian ones at the moment.
