NEW DELHI, JAN 18: For the first time, troops deployed in Siachen Glacier have adequate number of snow-mobiles. A Defence Ministry spokesman said today that this was conveyed to the defence minister, George Fernandes, when he visited the Siachen Glacier yesterday to see the condition of troops in the harsh winter conditions.The defence minister was told that the troops on the Glacier now had adequate number of snow-mobiles as 30 new scooters had arrived. This was the defence minister's fourth visit to the Glacier since he assumed charge of the portfolio ten months ago. His visit to the Glacier yesterday was to redeem his pledge to visit the troops there when the winter was at its peak.The defence minister was also told that as many as 6,254 pairs of improved quality gloves had been made available to the troops and the feasibility study for constructing a road from the base camp to the outpost in the Glacier had also been completed by the Border Roads Organisation. Once the road is ready, it would be ofimmense help to the troops deployed on the Glacier.The defence minister met the troops at Rewari outpost at 18,000 feet with day time temperature of up to minus 20 degrees Celsius and addressed them at Chalunka post. He also visited Turtuk army post and went up to zero point on the Line of Control (LOC).George Fernandes is the first defence minister to visit zero point. The defence minister was accompanied by Lt Gen H M Khanna, Army Commander, Northern Command, Maj Gen V S Badhwar, GOC, 3 Division, Brigadier P C Katoch, Commander, Siachen Brigade, and Brigadier K S Jamwal and Brigadier R Sehgal from the Northern Command.Fernandes was informed that the snow-mobiles were providing invaluable logistical support on the icy outposts. The army officers thanked the defence minister for the initiatives in ensuring better conditions for the troops on the glacier and told him that winter stockings this year were comfortable.The heating system in the Siachen Hospital at Partapur, which had not beenfunctioning for the last four years, had also been reactivated since the minister's last visit to the Glacier in August last year.The minister was also told that the kerosene pipeline was being expanded and a laundry system had been established at the base camp. Besides, bio-gesters had also been set up at Kumar post and at the base camp for disposal of human waste.While addressing the troops, Fernandes said that it would be his constant endeavour to provide them with the best possible facilities and modern equipment. He said in the ten months in office as defence minister he had often been asked why he had been visiting Siachen again and again.``To this my reply is that every time I visit the area to meet the troops, I learn something new,'' the defence minister said according to the spokesman. ``Besides, as defence minister, I should be visiting my troops wherever they are: whether in snow, desert or jungles to understand their problems and difficulties,'' the defence minister is said to haveremarked.Lauding the troops, the defence minister said they had done the country proud by their unflinching selfless service. Fernandes expressed happiness at the fact that there was now an increased awareness of the services of the troops in the country. In this context, he referred to the exhibition of captured weapons held in various parts of the country which had aroused a great deal of interest and understanding. ``This understanding has to be further intensified,'' he observed.
