Kargil: NDA draws CAG flak again

After Operation Parakram, at least 40 special demining systems were proposed to be imported on a fast-track basis by October, 2002 to defuse the mines laid during the military build-up. The deminers were to clear land for cultivation almost a year after the forward deployment ended. The fast-track procurement was to take place between 6-12 months, the report observed.

Of the three shortlisted firms, the CAG report says, a technical evaluation committee found only one suitable for Indian terrain. The firm said it would deliver 32 demining units in four months at a price of Rs 103.91 crore.

‘‘Equipment were received at Engineer Stores Depot in the Capital only between June 2003 and March 2004, 8-16 months beyond the date indicated by Army headquarters,’’ the report said.

As a result, the report observed, only 1,182 of the over 2.78 lakh mines were defused by the sophisticated systems, and the remaining were defused manually at substantial risk to life and limb.

‘‘The actual utilisation of the equipment purchased due to operational urgency to demine 10 lakh mines revealed that most of the minefields had already been cleared manually due to delay in procurement of the equipment,’’ the report said.