Report More Detailed Than Gen’s Letter
New Delhi: The political establishment was outraged when Army chief Gen V K Singh’s letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh highlighting the hollowness in India’s battle preparedness found its way into the media. Many politicians had even asked for the chief ’s sack, assuming that he had
leaked out the sensitive facts. But now it transpires that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had in a report in December highlighted the same critical gaps in India’s defence, only much more starkly.
The irony is that the startling report had failed to create even a ripple, much less an alarm. This was despite the fact that the report painted a more frightening picture than Gen Singh’s March 12 letter. Here’s a sample: "At present the artillery arm of Indian Army comprises of regiments holding a mix of various gun systems whose technology ranges from World War-II and those developed in the 1970s" the report says. Indian artillery, in other words, was obsolete, the CAG said.
In fact, the report said it in as many words: “Artillery guns of modern technology could not be made available to the troops for over a decade for replacing the existing guns of obsolete technology of 1970 vintage. Acquisition of artillery guns included in the 10th Army Plan has not materialized till now. The abnormal delay in procurement of the new guns had not only impacted the operational preparedness of the Army but also resulted in substantial cost overrun.”
2 REPORTS, 3 FORCES, MANY QUESTIONS
What CAG reports on armed forces, tabled in 2011, say
Artillery units using obsolete gun systems. Technology ranges from WW-II to 1970s
New guns to be acquired during 10th Army Plan (2002-07) not yet bought. This has hit preparedness and led to cost overruns
Of two Aerostat radars bought by IAF for Rs 676cr, one is out of action since May 2009. Fabric in both systems decaying prematurely
Flawed approach by Navy. Acquired new MiG 29K fighter aircraft for Rs 3,405cr but finalized weapons package later. Aircraft delivered without weapons 26/11 drill throws up coastal chinksA36-hour drill to test Mumbai’s coastal security showed that not much was learnt from 26/11. Despite a strong security cordon along the city’s coastline during Operation Sagar Kavach, dummy ‘intruders’ evaded cops at three points and slipped into the city, much like the 26/11 killers. Police later managed to nab them in five places in the city. The Navy, Coast Guard and CISF along with the Mumbai and state police forces were part of the drill that began on Tuesday. P9 House ignored CAG report on Navy too
New Delhi: None of this, however, roused Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which is mandated to scrutinize the findings of the auditor.
The panel did not even take up the findings for detailed scrutiny, even though it’s headed by an opposition leader, BJP’s Murli Manohar Joshi. There are 21 other members, representing all parties, and none of them got alarmed.
And yet the Army chief ’s leaked letter, the parties maintained, had given away national secrets.
Back to the report, it provided details of the kind of gaps in the country’s security apparatus: “Acquisition of quantity ‘X’ of 155mm 52 calibre towed guns and self-propelled (SP) guns (wheeled/tracked) was included in the 10th Army Plan (2002-07) but could not materialize as of Oct 2010.... This was to be replaced by the Army for its existing force level of 105mm/ 122mm/130mm guns of obsolete technology.”
It backs up this indictment by giving regimentwise and weapon-wise details of how the army lacks the firepower that, by government’s admission, it must have.
Stressing that the country has not acquired heavy artillery after the controversial purchase of Bofors 155mm howitzers in 1986, the auditor says: “Self-propelled guns are required to provide continuous fire support to mechanized formations, which normally operate cross-country in plains and deserts…. The Indian army is presently holding SP guns with technology of 1970s.”
Another CAG report on the Navy was tabled in Parliament in the monsoon session last year, and once again ignored by PAC.
That report by the CAG talks of India’s lack of competitiveness in sea warfare .
“The Navy followed a flawed approach in acquiring its new fighter aircraft fleet by not finalising the associated weapon package with the contract for the aircraft. Eleven out of 16 MiG 29K aircraft, acquired at a cost of $740 million (Rs 3,400 crore) have been delivered in Dec 2009 and May 2011. No item of armament contracted for in Mar 2006 has been delivered as of Oct 2010 adversely affecting the operational capabilities of the aircraft.”
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