Strategic Ammunition Storage in Eastern Ladakh

The Environment Ministry’s expert panel has approved several strategic projects in Eastern Ladakh, focusing on enhancing ammunition storage near the Sino-China border.

Key Proposals Approved

• Formation Ammunition Storage Facility (FASF):
  • Strategically located near Hanle and Photi La.
  • Includes underground caverns for strategic equipment storage.
• Strengthening Presence:
  • Proposals for Lukung (near Pangong Tso lake) and Durbuk area.
• Wildlife Clearance: Secured in December 2024.

Benefits of the Proposal

• Improved Storage and Deployment:
  • Ensures adequate ammunition storage and supervision.
  • Facilitates faster unit deployment in operational scenarios.
• Operational Readiness:
  • Aims to address the urgent necessity for forward placing combat elements.
  • Current storage is ad hoc, approximately 250-300 km away from key locations like Hanle and Photi La.

Additional Infrastructure Developments

• Permanent Facilities:
  • Inland water transport platoon at Lukung.
  • Infantry battalion camp at Erath.
• Objective: To regularize and strengthen temporary facilities, anticipating an increase in forces post-2020 border tensions with China.