MPs vindicate Gen Singh’s stand, pull up govt for allowing deficiencies to continue.
Vindicating army chief Gen VK Singh’s claim about the critical shortage of tank ammunition in a letter to the prime minister, a Parliamentary panel pulled up the government saying it was alarmed over the way deficiencies were allowed to continue leading to such a situation.
DNA was first to report about the communication between the Army chief and the prime minister. The Army chief had written a letter to the prime minister highlighting the shortage of ammunition for tanks and 97% obsolescence in air defence system.
In its report tabled on Monday, the standing committee on defence said, “The committee has observed there is huge gaps between the required and the existing force levels, armaments, equipment, aircraft, etc.
“The committee feels there is an urgent need to build the defence capabilities to face any of the challenges including worst scenario of two front war,” the report stated.
The committee disapproved the way deficiency of gun systems has been allowed to reach criticality. While deploring the situation, the committee recommend that at least now the desired initiatives should be taken by the defence ministry and the government,” the report stated.
The committee was informed that “total tank ammunition is 67%. Overall, it is about 40%, which has been the holding. In other cases like Infantry ammunition we are all right, that is about 70%. In Artillery, the problem is with one item that is the electronic fuse.”
On the shortage of aerial assets in the Army, the committee said, “There are huge gaps between the sanctioned and existing machines with the army aviation.”
The report said if the sanctioned and existing strength in the aerial arm of the Army is compared, “There is shortage of 18 Cheetah, 1 Chetak, 76 Advance Light Helicopter Dhruv and 60 ALH (Weapon Systems Integrated) with Army Aviation”.
—With Agency inputs
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