Question : TELEPHONE FACILITY IN SIACHEN

MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI GEORGE FERNANDES)

(a) & (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 174 FOR 29.11.2001

For the welfare of the troops in Siachen Glaciers, Army have arranged STD PCOs of Department of Telecommunication at the following places:-

(a)	Siachen	1

(b)	Chalunka Post	1

(c)	Thoise	1

(d)	Khalsar	1

(e)	Paratapur	3

2. Department of Telecommunication have subsidized the call charges applicable to all STD PCOs run by the Army in Leh, Nobra and Kargil Sectors 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).


3. Two normal STD telephones were functioning in HQ 102 Mountain Brigade. Since these did not fall in the category of STD PCOs, the concessional tariffs were not applicable and the users were required to pay the actual STD charges. Hence, the two telephones were surrendered in June 2001. In lieu of the surrendered STD telephones, two STD PCOs with concessional tariff have been provided at Paratapur. The total number of STD PCOs at Paratapur now is three.


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