Ever since his role in the controversial Antrix-Devas deal surfaced early last year, the government started to disassociate itself from him.
The ban imposed on him from holding any government job might have taken former ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair by surprise, but ever since his role in the controversial Antrix-Devas deal surfaced early last year, the government started to disassociate itself from him.
Nair, who was appointed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in 2010 to head a 16 member high powered committee for the national civil aircraft development programme (RTA-70), was detached from the programme once he submitted the feasibility report in June last year.
“The 16-member high powered committee headed by Nair has been dissolved once he submitted the feasibility report. CISR has appointed two more committees—one headed by former finance secretary Vijay Kelkar to identify industry partners for a joint venture for the civil aircraft programme, and the other, a technical committee, headed by former NAL Director Roddam Narasimha,” CSIR Director General Samir K Brahmachari said.
The high powered committee, headed by Nair, comprised of experts from the government, industry, financial institutions and aviation regulatory authority. It submitted a feasibility report stating that there is a market potential for the development of a 70-seater Regional Transport Aircraft.
Nair’s committee had recommended that the government fund the development phase and that a joint venture be created with a private partner for the production phase. But, the Planning Commission wanted a joint venture for both the development and production phases.
The estimated cost of the project is Rs7,555 crore of which Rs4,355 crore would be for the Design and Development and the remaining Rs3200 crore for the development phase.
When asked about his role as the chairperson of the committee and if his views were accepted, Nair said he had done a satisfactory job by submitting the report within a year. “I have submitted the report in one year something which the CISR could not do in three years,” Nair said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}