IAF’s ammunition dump in Gurgaon an urban nightmare

Though the Indian Air Force Act and Defence Property rules say that there should be no construction within 1000 yards of the boundary of an ammunition depot, there are all sorts of construction nearby, including a Sheetalmata Temple and two schools.

The District Collector of Gurgaon, A K Singh says, “It is a violation of the defence rules and a drive is on to demolish the constructions near the depot.”

Saying that at least a distance of 5 km should be maintained between an ammunition depot and any habitation, he says, “After what happened in Bharatpur, I am more committed to seeing through the drive to clear the area.”

The conservative range of a medium-sized projectile used by the IAF would be at least 20 km. In case of projectile slipping out of the storage bunker of the depot, it has a choice of targeting the Indira Gandhi International Airport, the Palam Domestic Airport of Delhi, Mehrauli or areas around the Qutab Minar.

Also in range would be at least three villages, including Carterpuri, three petrol pumps, two cinema halls, more than a dozen schools and most of the Maruti Udyog factory. Offices of major multi-national companies like General Electric, Ranbaxy, Motorola and Alcatel could also be in danger.

According to a senior IAF official, the Indian Air Force Act says no construction should be done in one km radius of a depot. “This clause was mainly to keep a watch on the goings-on in the surrounding areas and to preempt any danger to the depot,” the official says.

But as has become clear in Bharatpur, constructions near an ammunition depot run a very serious risk in case of a mishap.

Another similarity with the Bharatpur depot is the long grass all along the boundary walls of the gates, which is the same as in Bharatpur. According to Defence Minister George Fernandes, the Bharatpur depot blew up only because “the grass near the depot had caught fire”.

People living in Sector 17 of Udyog Vihar are most vulnerable. Most of them are retired Army or IAF officers. Says Videsha Bhimwal, daughter of Colonel S K Bhimwal, “We know that there is a depot next door. But have never felt any danger.” But there are many who do not even know that the ammunition depot exists so close to them.

According to senior defence officials, this is a strategic `air stores park’, about 35 square km in area, which is big enough to cater to the Hindon and Palam air bases. "So considering the sensitivity of the location of the depot, a cross-section of weaponry is kept here, in case of an emergency. These would include the simplest to the most advanced weapons that can be used by the aircraft of the IAF,” says an official.

But IAF spokesman Squadron Leader R K Dhingra says, “This is just an air store park, which means it is an equipment storage facility.” Then he adds, “Equipment here also means weapons.”

Senior advocate B L Wadhera, who has been following the case of the safety of the population in the areas surrounding the depot, says, “There was an effort to cut the size of the depot by the late Sanjay Gandhi, when Maruti car company was to come into India. But the measure did not go through due to his untimely death.”

“The situation has deteriorated a lot since then. The Act says no construction within one-km radius, now that is being violated. But the distance of one-km itself is archaic, either from the point of view of surveillance or attack. Because now the sophisticated missiles has such long range that they are a threat to Delhi, not just Gurgaon or one-km around it,” he feels.

While most of Gurgaon is living on the edge, property dealers blatantly lie about it. Says Amrit Properties owner, Amrit Pal, “The depot is shut. No missiles there, buy anything anywhere and build anywhere. There is no danger of any kind.”