Indian Army: News and Discussion

[Yatharth Singh]

I don't see a reason as to why is there a shortage of officers in the Army. Thousands of students who give exam for IMA and NDA are not selected. Can't 25% more students be admitted to fill the gap. Are those 25% too unusable for the Army.

I agree that thousands of candidates appear in the NDA exams but why don`t you see that our armed forces cannot compromise with even a single negetive point in their personnels.

What you are saying can be done but then whats the use of that?

This is an old phrase but still true for today.
"A single weak soldier can be the cause for the defeat of a nation."
Have you forgotten that how 300 mighty, stong Spartans fought against the thousands of Persians.
What about the streangth,reputation and respect of our army whose streangth is admired in the whole world.
I also want to join the IAF via NDA and for it I am preparing my mind and physique accordingly but that doesn`t mean that I want the selectors to compromise any standards for me so that after my selection no one can point a finger at me saying that "you are undeserving but still selected to fill the empty ranks."

 

[nandu]

SC clears construction of road near tri-junction Tibet, Bhutan, Sikkim

27 Apr 2010 PIB/8ak: Supreme Court has given clearance of Army's long pending proposal to construct a strategic road near tri-junction of Tibet, Bhutan and Sikkim. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has been entrusted with the construction of two strategic roads namely track junction – Bheem Base – Dokala for a length of 13.48 km and flag Hill-dokala for a length of 33.80 km near tri-junction of Tibet – Bhutan and Sikkim. The Court has put certain conditions including payment of five per cent of the estimated project cost to the Sikkim Government for compensatory afforestation.

Cost of work on Track Junction – Bheem Base – Dokala road is approx Rs. 15.12 crore. Work has commenced and probable date of completion is 2012. Cost of work on Flag Hill – Dokala is approx Rs. 81.81 crore. Hon'be Supreme Court has cleared the alignment in March 2010. The work on this road will start after getting clearance of National Board of World Life and Forest clearance. Completion of work will take five years after commencement of work.
Road construction in remote mountain areas has unique problems such as regular landslides, extreme environments, snow/water logging etc. A hill 8ak visited in Solang Nala, H.P. gave the impression that it is 'live' (see image (c) 8ak). This means that not only is the construction of these roads difficult and expensive but it is doubtful if adequate resources have been allocated for their regular maintenance.

A report stating that more than 40% of road projects in India faced cost escalations up to 50% points to poor project management, training and corruption. Compared to China the report stated that while India has "110,000 highway engineers, which is in sharp contrast with China where over 500,000 trained highway engineers".

http://www.8ak.in/8ak_india_defence...oad-near-trijunction-tibet-bhutan-sikkim.html

 

[nandu]

Firing range awareness camp at Khavda

BHUJ: The Indian Army conducted a camp on Tuesday to educate people residing around Khavda region in Bhuj taluka of Kutch district to explain to them the need to keep vigilance and avoid entering the firing range area demarcated by the army there.

Under the guidance of commandant RK Bharadwaj and colonel Vishnu Chande, the villagers were told how the firing range poses danger to trespassers. Anyone trespassing the demarcated area can be punished. Those wanting to pass through this area should have prior permission of the army office.

"On March 29, a trespasser had violated the orders and was injured," an official said. People were also asked to be aware of any strange objects lying in the area and inform police immediately. The firing range has started fencing the area to prevent people from entering.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...eness-camp-at-Khavda-/articleshow/5865432.cms

 

[RAM]

Modernisation plan for SSB on anvil

Patna: The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which has been assigned to guard the porous Indo-Nepal border, is being modernised. Under the modernisation plan of the force, all the 191 border outposts (BoP) along the 726-km Indo-Nepal border in Bihar have been equipped with latest gadgets.Commandant of 13th battalion of the SSB R S Shekhawat said latest wireless sets and satellite phones have also been provided to the personnel deputed at BoPs for better communication.SSB has been deployed to guard the border from Bhillai to Goabari.

Shekhawat said dragon lights and night vision devices have been provided to the SSB jawans to catch the smugglers even during night. Altogether 18 patrol cars have been pressed into service to guard the 110 km long border, he said.Apart from latest weapons, solar operated lights have also been installed at the BOPs.

http://www.igovernment.in/site/modernisation-plan-ssb-anvil-37448

 

[nandu]

New specialised force may replace CISF at airports

New Delhi: The government is examining a proposal to set up a dedicated aviation security force for the country's airports. The proposed force will replace the paramilitary Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).Civil Aviation Secretary M Nambiar recently reviewed a detailed presentation made by Ministry officials. "The idea is to have a dedicated aviation security force under a single command.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/more...Mvw&bbParentWidgetId=B89xlHKTRDOqz6HBM6QPqQ7w

 

[RAM]

High alert on India's water borders

Deep inside a creek close to India's western border with Pakistan, speedboat-borne commandos are firing at targets propped up in a mangrove. It seems an unusual place for target practice - the middle of a vast, choppy creek, surrounded by water and dotted with mangroves and marshes. We are close to Sir Creek which lies between India's western Gujarat state and the southern Pakistani province of Sindh. It has been a point of contention in the long-running dispute between the testy neighbours. India says the creek boundary should be in the middle of the 68km (42-mile) estuary. Pakistan says the border should lie on the south-east bank. But, arguments aside, considering that the 2008 Mumbai attacks were mounted by men who arrived by boat from Karachi, Indian security forces are taking no chances with the country's main water borders.

'Difficult terrain'

A handpicked team of 50 soldiers from the paramilitary Border Security Forces (BSF) have now been trained as a crack commando outfit called the Creek Crocodile Commandos to secure the area.
They provide the much-needed muscle to the troops' efforts to bolster surveillance of the sensitive water borders in the creeks. With more than a dozen border outposts, including a few "floating border outposts" housed in small ships patrolling the creek, and now the commandos, the water borders are guarded round the clock. "It is difficult terrain to patrol, but we take no chances with our multi-layered, heightened security," says BSF Commandant Pushpendrasinh Rathore.


It is difficult terrain to patrol

Pushpendrasinh Rathore, BSF Commandant
I travelled into the network of creeks with Commandant Rathore and his commandos to have a look at the terrain and the challenges troops face in securing the waters. In Gujarat's Kutch area, some 10 creeks open up into the Arabian Sea. They occupy an area of more than 4,000 sq km (2,500 sq miles) and are up to 17m (50-feet) deep. Navigating the creeks even on speedboats and marine rafts can be difficult. The waters turn very choppy during high tide - our speedboat rode the waves in what was sometimes a gut-wrenching and turbulent ride. At one point the boat nearly ran aground as water levels thinned out in the middle of the creek.

That is not all. Shifting sandbars change the course of channels. Sinking sand makes it difficult to patrol the marshes. It is easy for the "enemy" to infiltrate such a vast area dotted with mangroves, channels and mud flats. So it is a minor miracle that there is a permanent security outpost in the middle of a creek, nestling in a high outcrop of land in a marsh. The Sawla Peer outpost where more than a dozen soldiers live is not for the faint-hearted - during high tide, water inundates the marsh and the place is infested by the highly venomous Russell's viper. Soldiers posted on the marsh said they had killed a nest of 35 vipers the day before we arrived. Snakes pose a clear danger - anti-venom is kept at hand, and mongrel dogs have been shipped in from the mainland and set free to spot snakes. "The dogs always bark when they spot the snakes. So we can go out and kill them. They have now begun eating the snakes too," says a soldier.

Disputed waters

Around midday, we reach Sir Creek, a 68km-long channel.
India regards the middle of the channel as the "international border". A speck on the horizon is an outpost of the Pakistan Marines, who patrol their waters. A Pakistani fishing boat is sailing at a distance.
Soldiers are posted in the marsh to guard the water border For all the dispute around the channel, there has been no incident in the creek involving the two countries.

The only time it was in the news was in 1991 when a Pakistani surveillance aircraft flying over the creek was shot down by the Indian air force. India said the plane had strayed into its airspace.
On the way back to the mainland in Koteswar straddling the Kori creek, we spot an Indian fishing boat which has strayed into the waters and is gently admonished and turned back. Since last October, at least 12 Pakistani nationals - who say they are fishermen - have been arrested in the creeks, boats and other equipment have also been seized. Of these, seven Pakistanis were held some 30 nautical miles inside Sir Creek. They were all handed over to the police. Commandant Rathore is not complacent: "We have to keep a constant vigil. Who would have thought that Mumbai would be attacked by men coming in by boat?"


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8650993.stm

 

[nandu]

Indian Army Wants Diver Propulsion Vehicles For Its Special Ops Frogmen

The Indian Army is looking to buy diver propulsion vehicles (DPVs) for its commando divers. Here's what the RFI states: "The DPV should be capable of carrying two fully equipped combat divers along with additional 60 to 80-kg of cargo over a distance of not less than 5 nautical miles. It should have a cruising speed not less than 2-knots and be capable of operating upto a depth of 30m. The DPV should have an advanced and reliable navigation system preferably with depth gauging facility. It should be light weight, made of marine grade materials and be able to be easily carried over land by two personnel over short distance and in a vehicle over longer distances and also be capable of being para-dropped with suitable preparations."

http://livefist.blogspot.com/

 

[nandu]

3,780 defence land leases not renewed: MP's panel

At a time when the defence ministry is struggling with the fallout of the Sukna land scam, a parliamentary panel has lamented that 3,780 leases signed for defence land have not been renewed but the lessees, who were now 'trespassers', had not been evicted.

'This has resulted in non-recovery of substantial amount of rent and premium of several crores of rupees and loss of interest, the exact value of which was yet to be assessed,' the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said in its report tabled in parliament.

It was also 'dismayed' to note that while the annual rent received by the defence ministry for its leased land was Rs.213 crore, its market value was a whopping Rs.11,033 crore.

Of the unrenewed cases, 2,993 were more than 10 years old -- some even stretching back 36 years, 437 were 6-10 years old, 267 were 2-5 years old and 83 were a year old, the committee, headed by Gopinath Munde of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said.

The area of the land involved is 2,500 acres and this has been leased to both private and public parties.

Noting that the system of lease execution of defence land 'is afflicted with systematic loopholes', the committee said of the expired leases, requests for renewals in 899 cases 'but no proper followup action has been received'.

In 1,800 cases where no request for lease renewal was received, these 'have not been pursued vigorously for eviction of the lessees, who have since become trespassers on defence land', the committee said, adding the defence ministry had not submitted a status report on the remaining 1,081 cases.

The committee said it was 'constrained to note' that the defence ministry was 'yet to put in place a systematic mechanism' for streamlining the lease execution and renewal process and termed this 'a serious lacunae' that required the ministry's 'immediate/urgent attention'.

It also asked the ministry to 'furnish detailed information regarding followup action taken on all cases where the request for lease renewal was received' and also the action taken in the remaining cases 'along with the reasons for non-initiation of any appropriate action wherever necessary'.

Two lieutenant generals, both of whom have since retired, are facing court martial for illegalities in leasing defence land in the Sukna cantonment in West Bengal.

http://sify.com/news/3-780-defence-land-leases-not-renewed-MP-s-panel-news-National-ke4tagabgid.html

 

[nandu]

Got leadership qualities? Join the Army

MANGALORE: The Indian Army offers bright career opportunities and the pay scale for an officer on commission is higher than what new IAS officers get, said Colonel C R Deshpande, director, Army Recruiting Office, Mangalore.

Speaking at the Education Mela 2010, organized by The Rotary Club--Mangalore South, in association with Educare Education Trust here on Saturday, Deshpande focused on career opportunities for candidates with different educational backgrounds.

The mela is a two-day event that has been organized to create awareness among students and parents about different career opportunities in different fields. As many as 33 educational institutes including Alva's Moodbidri, Nitte University, Fisheries College, Mangalore, have set up their stalls at the event.

Deshpande said, "The pay scale in the Indian Army is attractive after the implementation of Sixth Pay Commission recommendations and one of the highest compared with other sectors. Even other facilities such as allowances, food, accommodation is better in the Army. The chief of the Army's salary is one of the highest in the country and at par with the chief secretary of the Union government."

Indian Army offers both long-term and short-term career opportunities with all kinds of benefits in arms and service sections. "A candidate joining as officer would become Lieutenant Colonel within 13 years of service. Army looks for candidates with leadership qualities and academic qualification is secondary in the process of selection. These candidates will get opportunities to pursue higher education, including courses like MBA free of cost while serving in the Army. Reputed institutes such as Indian Institute of Management (IIM) have quota for servicemen," he explained.

According to Deshpande, the Indian Army is going high-tech and there is high demand for candidates with technical background. They too could pursue opportunities to access higher education and the army would bear the expenses, he said.

Earlier, inaugurating the event, Alva's Education Foundation chairman M Mohan Alva said, "Parents and students should come out of the notion that only the engineering and medical courses offer good career opportunities. Many other fields such as nursing too have a good scope, but the youth of Dakshina Kannada have not tapped its potential. Colleges and teachers should try to impart correct information about the career opportunities in various fields to the students."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...alities-Join-the-Army/articleshow/5881008.cms

 

[RAM]

Paramilitary forces on upgrade mode

NEW DELHI: In the light of fresh challenges thrown up by the Mumbai terror attacks and Naxal violence in several states, the Home Ministry is rushing to upgrade the operational effectiveness of the paramilitary forces. These forces are being re-equipped at breakneck speed with new weapons, bullet-proof jackets, riot gear and armoured vehicles. Global equipment suppliers who have recently been camping in New Delhi and displaying their lethal wares, estimate that the India market for internal-security related equipment will be worth a whopping Rs 45,000 crore over the period of next two to three years. Home secretary G K Pillai, who inaugurated a homeland security exhibition here this week, said that the security industry was recession-proof and offered numerous technological solutions for forces involved in internal security duties. "The challenges are many. We have had a series of defence security exhibitions in last one year which have given us a taste of what equipments are available. Some of the paramilitary forces, and state police forces have already moved ahead and have taken full advantage of the opportunities presented to them," Pillai had said.

In the last two months alone, the Home Ministry has given sanction to a number of modernisation programmes of paramilitary forces, including procurement of 59,000 light-weight bullet-proof jackets.
From CRPF to BSF NSG to ITBP, all such forces are in the process of acquiring new weapons, all-terrain vehicles and helicopters. "Modernisation is an ongoing process. Perhaps after the 26/11, there has been a greater impetus to upgrading of arms and ammunition," a senior paramilitary officer said. The NSG has recently placed an order of over 800 state- of-the-art SIG rifles, something which certain other forces are also looking at. Last month, the MHA has sanctioned procurement of 378 automatic grenade launchers and related ammunition at a total cost of Rs 37.83 crore.

It also sanctioned procurement of 34,377 carbines for the BSF at a cost of Rs 137.51 crore. The CISF, which guards the airports, nuclear plants and other sensitive installations, already uses Glock pistols and will also procure 1,000 more such weapons at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore. Equipment manufacturers estimate that the security budget for both the Central and state governments this year has increased to over Rs 1.27 lakh crore. This is a 35 per cent increase over the previous year.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...orces-on-upgrade-mode/articleshow/5883075.cms

 

[RAM]

Army to procure short-range missile system

NEW DELHI: The army is planning to procure a short-range surface to air missile (SRSAM) system to counter threats to cities and important installations in the country from enemy aircraft and missiles. "We are planning to induct the 20 km-range SRSAM systems to strengthen our air defence capabilities to provide cover from aerial threats to our important bases and installations," army officials said in New Delhi. The procurement process was recently initiated with the release of a Request for Information (RFI) in this regard. According to the RFI, the army wants a missile system that can be transported on both rail and road mobile launchers in all possible terrains in the country.

The missile should also be able to target objects moving at speeds between zero to 500 meters per second including hovering targets such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), fighter and surveillance aircraft and helicopters. The army wants the new missile system to be capable of operating in both day and night conditions and take on targets in the dark also. In the recent past, the army has taken up several projects to do away with the night-blindness of its existing fleet of tanks and Infantry Combat Vehicles. As per the RFI, radar of the SRSAM system should be capable of tracking a number of targets simultaneously and should have Electronic Counter Counter-Measures (ECCM) to be able to support the electronic warfare environment. The RFI states that the system should be capable of operating in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare environment.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-range-missile-system/articleshow/5882536.cms

 

[rahulrds1]

Indian army to procure short-range missile system

Reference: http://www.in.com/news/current-affa...range-missile-system-13749287-165656-rhp.html

 

[nandu]

Kashmir's nomadic Bakarwals get help of Indian security forces

Poonch (J-K), May 3 (ANI): The Indian Army is providing family identity cards along with medical help to the Bakarwals, a community of shepherds and pastoral nomads in order to provide them assistance and safety in Poonch district.

The Indian Army has set up special check posts to help the tribe.

According to Major Henery Pasreja of the 27 Rashtriya Rifles, special family identity cards are being provided to the nomads so that they do not face difficulties from security forces. It would also help the Army keep a check on infiltration bids by militants disguising themselves as Bakarwals.

"We have established this joint check post in Mandi Loran area. This check post is here to help the migratory population of Bakarwals. These people come here and register their details, details about their family along with the details of their animals. We then take a group photograph and issue this identity card," said Pasreja.

The Bakarwals say they are pleased with the efforts of the security forces.

"The Army has helped us a lot. They give us medicines and vaccinations. They also vaccinate our animals and make these identity cards for us. No one has helped us this way before," said Mohammad Nazir, a nomad.

Living a semi-nomadic life and rearing sheep and goats, the tribe of Bakarwals i is usually targeted by militants for food and refuge in deep forests.

For centuries, Bakarwals have been leading a tough life in the high altitude meadows of the northern Himalayas and the Pir-Panjal ranges in the region.

They migrate to the lower reaches every year at the onset of winter and return to higher terrain during spring in search of green pastures.

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/05/03/kashmirsnomadic-bakarwals-get-help-of-indian-securityforc.html

 

[RAM]

Purchase of Ultra Light Howitzers for Army Operations

A procurement case for acquisition of Ultra Light Howitzers (ULH) for the Indian Army is underway as per the provisions of Defence Procurement Procedure 2008. Under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS), the Ministry of Defence had also issued a Letter of Request for procurement of ULH to the Government of the USA in May 2009. This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Shri in Sharad Anantrao Joshi Rajya Sabha today

http://idrw.org/?p=1555

 

[RAM]

Defence to get dedicated communication network by 2013

The Armed forces will be able to switch to a dedicated optical fibre network by 2013 which the state-run BSNL will complete by 2012-end paving the way for the Services to release radio waves for commercial use by mobile operators.BSNL in its status report to the department of telecom and a Parliamentary standing committee has conveyed that the timeline for implementation of the Army and the Navy network is estimated at three years for which the tenders will be finalised by this August and implemented by December 2012.Radio spectrum is the carrier of voice signals in wireless devices and is key for cellular mobile telephony to operate.BSNL said it has already completed a similar project for the Air Force which is currently under testing. It added that this network for the Air Force is smaller in scale and size than those of the Army and the Navy. But the bulk of the 45 Mhz spectrum to be vacated will come from the Air Force (42.5MHz).

Total cost of the optical fibre nectowrk for the Army and the Navy is Rs 8,098 crore, while that of Air Force is Rs it was 1,077 crore with the total cost at Rs 9,175.16 crore.BSNL has been reimbursed for the Air Force project to the extent of Rs 720 crore with the rest to be paid to the PSU in phases, said the report.Defence with the assurance of getting an alternate communication network under the supersvision of DoT and BSNL would not have to wait till 2013 to release spectrum. The vacation of radio waves can happen as sought by DoT which could be around this September when the 3G auction winners start rolling out high speed mobile services. Out of the 45Mhz of radio waves to be released by the Armed forces, 25MHz is 3G spectrum.The Defence forces are major users of spectrum due to the strategic reasons. But the the rapid growth of mobile users has led to the demand for more spectrum. This had led to the government asking BSNL to prepare an alternate network get the defence forces to vacate spectrum keeping the security concerns in mind.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=12855

 

[RAM]

BRO turns 50: Old traditions, new problems

Exactly 50 years ago, with war clouds gathering on the Sino-Indian border, Jawaharlal Nehru created the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), an inter-ministerial task force that has become an Indian exemplar of grit and fortitude. Thanks to over 48,000 kilometres of BRO roads, soldiers now drive to far-flung border picquets that earlier involved days of marching. But, even on the BRO's Golden Jubilee, an ambitious expansion of India's border road network remains stymied by archaic state laws and a crippling lack of urgency.The challenge before the BRO — triggered by China's dramatic expansion of road and rail links in Tibet — is the Strategic Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP) planned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Under this, the BRO will build double-lane roads from each state capital in the northeast to each of that state's district headquarters. That involves building 38 roads, approximately 2,812 km long, within the next five years. In addition, the government has recently handed the BRO responsibility for the Arunachal Package, which involves building another 812 km of roads in the state that China calls "Southern Tibet".

Holding back the BRO are two major obstacles. First, the tribal structure of Arunachal Pradesh makes it difficult for the state government to acquire land for these roads. While the state government constitutionally owns non-private land, Itanagar goes by tribal tradition in which all land belongs to the local tribe. The acquisition of any land in Arunachal Pradesh involves extended negotiations with multiple tribal leaders who are increasingly aware of the value of their concurrence.Admitting that land acquisition is a problem, the Director General of the BRO, Lt Gen M C Badhani, says, "Procedural delays (in land acquisition) have to be accepted. The locals bring forward their own concerns and aspirations and we try to take those on board. It is important to have local support."

The other obstacle before the BRO is the requirement to provide each labourer with an Inner Line Permit (ILP) before entering Arunachal Pradesh, something that the state government implements strongly. Thousands of casual labourers from states across the country, especially Jharkhand and Bihar, are contracted for BRO projects in Arunachal; their employment is often held up while ILPs are issued.
"We will continue to enforce ILPs strictly in Arunachal," promises a top bureaucrat in the Arunachal Pradesh state government. "Arunachal's identity will be swamped by outsiders if we don't keep a tight control on who enters the state. All kinds of trouble-makers can come into Arunachal pretending to be labourers; we will vet every single labourer and make the contractor responsible."These issues around contract labour are exacerbated by a 15 per cent shortfall in the BRO workforce as well. The BRO is authorised 42,646 uniformed personnel but the current strength is just 36,000. A concerned BRO has approached the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for allowing a one-time bulk recruitment of civilian BRO officers to fill all the existing vacancies. For the non-officer ranks, two Mobile Recruiting Centres have been set up in Tezpur and Rishikesh; another two are planned for Jharkhand and UP/Bihar.

Another contentious issue that has held up work on road projects — environmental clearance — has apparently been resolved. Lt Gen Badhani explains, "While environmental and wildlife clearances do take time, I must say that we are extremely happy with the way officials are now clearing projects. Earlier, 60-70 roads were held up for environmental clearance; today just eight are held up."Despite all the hurdles, the BRO claims that the SARDP is largely on track. The 10 roads (1,047 kilometres) that must be delivered by 2012 are about 40-45 per cent completed. Work is also progressing on the Arunachal Package.As roads push into more rugged and underdeveloped areas, the pace of construction slows because of the logistical difficulties of transporting labour, plant and materials. To speed up construction, the BRO has indented for Mi-17 medium lift helicopters that can lift loads of 4 tonnes and land at helipads as high as 18,000 feet. But the IAF's fleet of 120 Mi-17s is fully committed in ferrying supplies to the Indian Army's high-altitude posts and has declined assistance. Now the BRO is approaching Pawan Hans for five Mi-17s.

Since the time the BRO's first chief, the dashing Major General Kartar Nath Dubey, pushed through the first roads to Tawang and Chushul in the early 1960s, the BRO has become a reassuring presence on India's borders. Every spring, it cuts through walls of snow in high-altitude passes to clear 95 roads, like the Srinagar-Kargil highway. The BRO is overseeing the 8.8-km long Rohtang tunnel, which will allow traffic to Lahaul-Spiti to flow around the year. It has constructed 19 border airfields and 400 major bridges. It is currently working on 699 roads, a length of 28,000 km.
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=12856

 

[Anshu Attri]

http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/

Border Roads turns 50; old traditions; new problems

Exactly 50 years ago, with war clouds gathering on the Sino-Indian border, Jawaharlal Nehru created the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), an inter-ministerial task force that has become an Indian exemplar of grit and fortitude. Thanks to over 48,000 kilometers of BRO roads, soldiers now drive to far-flung border picquets that earlier involved days of marching. But, even today on the BRO's Golden Jubilee, an ambitious expansion of India's border road network remains stymied by archaic state laws and a crippling lack of urgency.

The challenge before the BRO --- triggered by China's dramatic expansion of road and rail links in Tibet --- is the Strategic Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP) planned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Under this, the BRO will build double-lane roads from each state capital in the northeast to each of that state's district headquarters. That involves building 38 roads, approximately 2812 km long, within the next five years. In addition, the government has recently handed the BRO responsibility for the Arunachal Package, which involves building another 812 km of roads in the state that China calls "Southern Tibet".

Holding back the BRO are two major obstacles. Firstly, the tribal structure of Arunachal Pradesh makes it difficult for the state government to acquire land for these roads. While the state government constitutionally owns non-private land, Itanagar goes by tribal tradition in which all land belongs to the local tribe. The acquisition of any land in Arunachal Pradesh involves extended negotiations with multiple tribal leaders who are increasingly aware of the value of their concurrence.

Admitting that land acquisition is a problem, the Director General of the BRO, Lt Gen MC Badhani, says, "Procedural delays (in land acquisition) have to be accepted. The locals bring forward their own concerns and aspirations and we try to take those on board. It is important to have local support."

The other obstacle before the BRO is the requirement to provide each labourer with an Inner Line Permit (ILP) before entering Arunachal Pradesh, something that the state government implements strongly. Thousands of casual labourers from states across the country, especially Jharkhand and Bihar, are contracted for BRO projects in Arunachal; their employment is often held up while ILPs are issued.

"We will continue to enforce ILPs strictly in Arunachal", promises a top bureaucrat in the Arunachal Pradesh state government. "Arunachal's identity will be swamped by outsiders if we don't keep a tight control on who enters the state. All kinds of trouble-makers can come into Arunachal pretending to be labourers; we will vet every single labourer and make the contractor responsible."

These issues around contract labour are exacerbated by a 15% shortfall in the BRO workforce as well. The BRO is authorised 42,646 uniformed personnel but the current strength is just 36,000. A concerned BRO has approached the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for allowing a one-time bulk recruitment of civilian BRO officers to fill all the existing vacancies. For the non-officer ranks, two Mobile Recruiting Centres have been set up in Tezpur and Rishikesh; another two are planned for Jharkhand and UP/Bihar.

Another contentious issue that has held up work on road projects --- environmental clearance --- has apparently been resolved. The BRO chief, Lt Gen Badhani, explains, "While environmental and wildlife clearances do take time, I must say that we are extremely happy with the way that officials are now clearing projects. Earlier, 60-70 roads were held up for environmental clearance; today just 8 are held up.

Despite all the hurdles, the BRO claims that the SARDP is largely on track. The 10 roads (1047 kilometers) that must be delivered by 2012 are about 40-45% completed. Work is also progressing on the Arunachal Package.

As roads push into more rugged and underdeveloped areas, the pace of construction slows because of the logistical difficulties of transporting labour, plant and materials. To speed up construction, the BRO has indented for Mi-17 medium lift helicopters that can lift loads of 4 tonnes and land at helipads as high as 18,000 feet. But the IAF's fleet of 120 Mi-17s is fully committed in ferrying supplies to the Indian Army's high-altitude posts and has declined assistance. Now the BRO is approaching Pawan Hans for five Mi-17s.

Since the time the BRO's first chief, the dashing Major General Kartar Nath Dubey, pushed through the first roads to Tawang and Chushul in the early 1960s, the BRO has become a reassuring presence on India's borders. Every spring, it cuts through walls of snow in high-altitude passes to clear 95 roads, like the Srinagar-Kargil highway. The BRO is overseeing the 8.8 km long Rohtang tunnel, which will allow traffic to Lahaul-Spiti to flow around the year. It has constructed 19 border airfields and 400 major bridges. It is currently working on 699 roads, a length of 28,000 km.

 

[Anshu Attri]

force 1 commandos training in Israel....

http://www.mako.co.il/news-channel2/Friday-Newscast/Article-85ed5612cbf2721004.htm

 

[nandu]

Army Chief Picks ADC From Another Battalion As 2 Rajput Runs Short Of Officers !!

Army Chief, General V K Singh, is said to have changed his decision of having an ADC from his own unit, 2 Rajput, after discovering the officer shortage in the battalion, and instead picked up a young officer from 25 Rajput regiment.

Captains Abhimanyu Tara and Vikram Singh, of 2 Rajput- 'kalichindi paltan', were interviewed earlier in April for the ADC's post, when General Singh took over, but the Chief apparently decided against having anyone from his 'paltan' , as the battalion had just 11 officers, against the authorised strength of 22, of which approximately four officers are out of the unit. The idea was dropped and Major Garg of 25 Rajput was roped in for the job.

http://chhindits.blogspot.com/

 

[nandu]

Antony wants BRO to build strategic roads & airfields

Antony releases a special souvenir 'Reflections' along with his deputy Pallam Raju. Photo: MoD

The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has asked the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to focus on building strategic roads and other infrastructure including tunnels and airfields on the borders. Addressing the BRO's Golden Jubilee function here today, Shri Antony said, "though demand has been growing from various states to involve the BRO, there is a limit to which it can stretch its resources and manpower." "BRO has an important role in developing the border infrastructure and in executing construction of roads, bridges and airfields in remote and far-flung areas," he added.
Shri Antony said there is a turnaround in Government policy towards building assets in inaccessible border areas. He said earlier the thinking was that inaccessibility in far flung areas would be a deterrent to the enemies. Describing such school of thought as 'incorrect approach', he said, Government is now taking a number of measures to upgrade roads, tunnels and airfields etc in the border areas.
The Defence Minister assured liberal grants and the most contemporary earthmovers and heavy machinery available anywhere to help the BRO achieve its targets and build roads in the northern Himalayan borders, the world's most difficult and inhospitable terrain. "I urge all the concerned ministries, other organisations and state governments to extend every possible support to help the BRO in fulfilling its mandate," he said.
Shri Antony further said that this premier Inter-Services Organisation functioning under the Ministry of Defence was "an extended family" of the Armed Forces and it would obviously "give rise to friction in such a mixed family." "There is no room for bickering," Shri Antony observed, adding that outstanding issues would be "resolved amicably."
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of State for Defence Dr. MM Pallam Raju commended the large casual workforce engaged by the BRO, numbering almost one lakh men and women. Dr. Raju said the government is seized of the issue, and a social security scheme is on the anvil for the welfare of the labourers "who face the vagaries of weather."
A special postal cover and a souvenir 'Reflections' was released on the occasion. The Chief of Air Staff and Chiefs of Staff Committee Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, Chief of Army Staff General VK Singh, Defence Secretary Shri Pradeep Kumar, BRO Director-General, Lt General MC Badhani and Engineer-in-Chief, Lt General AK Nanda were also present.

http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/