NEW DELHI, Dec 18:
The national auditor today rapped the Defence Ministry over ageing assets, some over 40 years old, in the Army Aviation Corps and for failing to provide combat free-fall parachutes to the special forces for over a decade, among other things.
The audit body also criticised the Ministry over the shortage of 47 per cent in the holding of BMP infantry combat vehicles in the Indian Army.
In its report submitted to Parliament, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India said that although the Army Aviation Corps was created with the main objective of contributing to battlefield success by providing guidance to field commanders in applying decisive combat powers, it is plagued with 32 per cent deficiency vis-a-vis its authorised fleet strength.
“The helicopters held are old and ageing, with 52 per cent of the fleet more than 30 years old. The effective availability of helicopters for operations gets further reduced to 40 per cent of the authorisation due to low level of serviceability of the existing fleet,” said the CAG report.
Of the 181 Cheetah/Chetak helicopters held by the Army, 51 were 40 years or older and 78 were between 30-40 years old.
The CAG observed that ever since these were approved for de-induction (2002), 23 helicopters had met with accidents.
Despite these shortcomings, Army Aviation Corps could not replace its fleet of reconnaissance and observation helicopters (Cheetah/Chetak), which are due for de-induction since 10th Plan period (2002-2007) onwards, it added.
Against the 18 schemes related to acquisition of equipment, including helicopters, for the Army Aviation Corps, approved in the 11th and 12th Service Capital Acquisition Plan, contracts in respect of only four schemes could be concluded in the nine-year period so far.
“Failure in meeting the targets and objectives of the acquisition plans and tardiness in procurement action were the main reasons denying the Corps to acquire suitable replacement for the old and ageing fleet (sic),” the report said.
A group of Army officers’ wives had in March this year urged Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to stop the use of “outdated” Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, which have claimed a number of lives.
The Government had last August scrapped a Rs 6,000 crore tender for procuring 197 light utility helicopters from foreign vendors for the armed forces and decided to allow domestic players to manufacture these helicopters.
This was the third time that this tender was scrapped.
The existing fleet of Army Aviation Corps comprises Chetak, Cheetah and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
Chetak and Cheetah helicopters were originally manufactured by Aerospatiale, France, and were inducted into service in India in 1969 and 1971, respectively.
The helicopters were later indigenously manufactured and delivered by HAL under licensed production since 1977.
The CAG observed that while the desired level of serviceability of assets in Army Aviation Corps was 80 per cent, the overall level of serviceability in respect of R&O (Cheetah/Chetak) Helicopters was only 65 per cent on an average.
“The position of serviceability in respect of Advanced Light Helicopter was more critical at an average of 44 per cent only.
“The poor serviceability of ALH was despite the fact that the fleet, which was inducted only from 2002 onwards, was relatively new and was designed, developed and manufactured indigenously by HAL,” the CAG said.
It also rapped the Defence Ministry over shortage of 47 per cent in holding of BMP vehicles.
The main reason for the shortfall was the delay in supply of 389 BMPs by OFB, which not only adversely affected the operational preparedness of Mechanised Forces/Engineers but also entailed a minimum extra liability of Rs 270.97 crore due to cost escalation, it said.
It also noted that Image Intensifier Sights valued at Rs 22.12 crore for the commanders of T-55 tanks were procured between February, 2011, and June, 2013, after the tank was declared obsolescent in December, 2011.
Also, noting that Combat freefall (CFF) parachutes are required during highly-specialised operations and are vital for the success of the missions carried out by Parachutes Special Forces Battalions of Indian Army, CAG said the Army was without these specialised parachutes for over a decade.
“The CFF parachutes developed by DRDO in 2006 could not be successfully productionised by the Ordnance Factory Board even after incurring an expenditure of Rs 10.75 crore,” it said.
The CAG has also criticised the Army for “unauthorised” utilisation of helicopters of the Aviation Corps including sorties undertaken on Saturday, Sunday and holidays which cost the exchequer nearly Rs three crore extra as unauthorised expenditure.
The CAG noted that as per paragraph 33 of Compendium on Management of Army Aviation and direction given by the Army Vice Chief on utilisation of the helicopters, the sorties should not be demanded where the civil aircraft is to be made/between places connected by civil aviation, (This should include casualty evacuation also) and when the aircraft is required to stay overnight away from parent base.
The CAG said that in the Eastern sector, sorties involving 14 helicopters were undertaken between November 2013 and March 2014 wherein the distance travelled was less than three hours by road.
“Besides, on two occasions GOC-in-C, SC, and GOC-inC, CC, undertook sorties along with Regional President-AWWA, involving 17.30 and 20.00 flying hours respectively, covering three States and by hopping flights which was inadmissible,” the report said.
It added that 204 Advanced Light Helicopter Squadron was involved in 20 communication sorties in January 2014 to March 2014, involving night halt on 10 occasions including foreign country (Bhutan).
“Since aircraft are not allowed to stay overnight away from the parent base, the sorties involving night halts were in violation of laid down instructions.
“Standby aircraft were detailed on 16 occasions during 2011-12 to 2013-14 by 204 ALH Squadron. Deployment of standby aircraft 86 hours resulted in unauthorised expenditure of Rs 2.89 crore,” the auditor said.
In the northern sector, during the year 2011-12 and 2013-14, at least 856 sorties were undertaken where travel time by road was even less than three hours. In most of the occasions, the road distance was only 20 km.
In the western sector, the CAG observed during the audit of 660 AA Squadron that sorties were used where the distance by road was less than four hours and also during Saturday, Sunday and holidays on 63 occasions during the year 2011-12 to 2013-14 which resulted in unauthorised 60.10 flying hours worth Rs 0.60 crore.
On being pointed out in audit regarding non observance of the instructions for utilisation of the aircrafts, DGAA stated in July 2015 that GOC-in-C, Commands are empowered for sanctioning sorties for movement of service personnel as per operational necessity within the respective command area of responsibility.
Regarding the deployment of stand by helicopters, DGAA stated in July 2015 that no standby aircraft was to be detailed for movement of senior officers.
“Reply of the DG Army Aviation is not acceptable, as notwithstanding the sanctioning powers of the GOC in C, the above stated sorties were carried out in violation of the laid down norms,” the CAG said. (PTI)
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