In a move aimed at bolstering operational readiness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seeking environmental clearance to construct additional ammunition storage facilities in the strategically crucial Ladakh region.
This initiative focuses primarily on forward areas in Eastern Ladakh, a region that has witnessed heightened tensions with China in recent years.
The proposals, submitted between April and July, highlight the "urgent necessity" to ensure adequate ammunition supply to combat units stationed in forward locations like Hanle, Punguk, Photi La, and Koyul.
Currently, ammunition is stored in an ad-hoc manner, approximately 250 km away from Hanle and 300 km from Photi La. This distance creates logistical challenges, causing supply bottlenecks and potentially hindering operational readiness in critical situations.
To address this, the MoD plans to establish Formation Ammunition Storage Facilities (FASF) at strategic locations near Hanle and Photi La. Photi La, one of the highest motorable passes in the world, is just 30 km from Hanle and provides access to Demchok, a key area where recent disengagement agreements with China were finalized.
The proposed FASFs will ensure adequate storage and better supervision of ammunition, enabling faster deployment of units and enhancing operational readiness. In addition to FASFs, the MoD is also proposing the construction of underground caverns to store strategic equipment, further strengthening defence capabilities in the region.
These initiatives come in the wake of the 2020 border clashes with Chinese forces in the Galwan Valley, which underscored the importance of maintaining a high level of operational preparedness in the region. The MoD's proposals are currently awaiting clearance from the environment ministry, as the planned construction falls within the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.
