November 28, 2001

RAJYA SABHA

'33'

LACK OF TELEPHONE FACILITY TO TROOPS IN SIACHEN

        Army have arranged one each STD PCOs of Department of Telecommunication at Siachen, Chalunka Post, Thoise, Khalsar and three in Paratapur.

        Department of Telecommunication have subsidized the call charges applicable to all STD PCOs run by the Army in Leh, Nobra and Kargil Sector which includes Siachen. As a result, only 25 % of the actual charges are being paid by the users for all STD calls and ISD calls (to Nepal only).

        With the existing arrangement there is no complaint from soldiers regarding communication facilities provided to them.

        This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes in a written reply to Shri Ramchandraiah in Rajya Sabha today.