In a move aimed at keeping the troops in the Kashmir Valley comfortable during the winter season, the officials in Srinagar said that the Centre has sanctioned setting up of over 40 pre-fabricated huts for paramilitary forces in the Valley. Along with this, the Centre has also decided to improve the infrastructure in existing private houses and hotels to keep its troops comfortable during the snow period.

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Winters are coming

The move, which is indicative of a longer haul for paramilitary forces in the Valley, is likely to be implemented in the next few weeks as the winter season is expected to settle by the end of next month in Kashmir. The pre-fabricated shelters would be insulated with Poly Urethane Foam (PUF) and priority would be given to those troops who are stationed in areas that get more snow, the officials said. The PUF hut, according to the officials, will have a special foam layer to insulate the interiors from the winter chill.

Besides this, for the first time, the CRPF has managed to secure a sanction for purchase of over two lakh coir mattresses which will be used by the jawans of the paramilitary force deployed in the Valley. Earlier, the personnel were sanctioned a 'darri' (thin mat) to sleep on during deployment. However, keeping in mind the harsh weather condition, the Ministry of Home Affairs accorded sanction to the CRPF's request for purchasing over two lakh coir mattresses for its jawans, the officials said.

The Centre has also accorded sanction for insulating private houses and hotels, where jawans have been kept for carrying out law and order duties besides participating in counter-insurgency operations in the Valley. The CRPF, after its deployment in 2003 in the Valley, took over a little over 100 small hotels and houses abandoned by Kashmiri Pandits. Over the years, the infrastructure at these premises could not be improved as they were not government property. However, this time, the CRPF has been accorded a sanction to improve infrastructure within these private properties to make it more comfortable for the jawans residing there, the officials said.

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Abrogation of Article 370

Many CRPF companies were pushed into the Valley ahead of the Centre's decision of August 5 to abrogate Article 370 of the Indian Constitution which gave a special status to Jammu and Kashmir and also bifurcate the State into two Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Apprehending a backlash following the move, the Centre had withdrawn paramilitary forces, especially the Central Reserve Police Force from other areas and airlifted them to the Kashmir Valley. The Union territories will come into being from October 31.

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(With inputs from PTI)