New Delhi, August 12

Almost eight months after the Army asked private Indian firms to make specialised clothing, boots, sleeping bags etc for soldiers posted in Siachen and other extreme cold conditions, the project is on the verge of fructifying. Some of the equipment will now be made in India. This includes thermal insoles, snow goggles, ice axe, boots, avalanche victim detector, rock pitons, karabiner-related mountaineering equipment and sleeping bags. The Army has identified that all these can be produced by Indian firms, some of which are already supplying raw material to manufacturers in the US, Australia, Canada and Switzerland. A number of foreign companies have also shown interest in co-production of such clothing with Indian firms. The move could save India some Rs 300 crore — Rs 800 crore spent annually on the import of these items. — TNS