Defence budget inadequate: Army tells Parliamentary panel
NEW DELHI: The Indian Army has informed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence that it does not have enough money to pay for ongoing schemes, emergency procurement, weaponry for 10 days of intense war, future acquisitions and also strategic roads along the Chinaborder.
The development was shared by the army’s Vice Chief Lt Gen Sarath Chandin his deposition to the Committee, according to a report tabled in Parliament by the latter on Tuesday. Chand also said that the defence budget “has dashed our hopes” and the marginal increase in it barely accounts for inflation and doesn’t cater for taxes.
In another report tabled by the Committee today, the army has also said that it is important to pay attention to modernisation and bridging deficiencies, while considering the possibility of a two-front war.
The Committee notes that over the years the army has accumulated a substantial deficiency in weapons and ammunition. The Committee adds that this is because adequate attention has not been given in policy and budget for modernizing the aging armoury.
Importantly, it says that last month’s terrorist attack on the Sunjuwan army camp highlights the scant progress made in perimeter security, adding that the budgetary provisions does not show the seriousness towards meeting it, while also praising the government over delegating emergency procurement powers to the army and purchasing ammunition and spares to be able to fight a short intense war.
Budget Doesn’t Support Army
The Committee notes that in view of the Doklam standoff, cross border firing and militant activities, the defence budget doesn’t support the army’s needs.
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The Vice Chief told the Committee, “Allocation of Rs. 21,338 Crore for modernisation is insufficient even to cater for committed payment for 125 on-going schemes, emergency procurements, 10 (I) (weaponry for 10 days of intense war).”
He added that 68 per cent of the army’s equipment is in the vintage category, when it should be just one-third.
“In the Army we are looking forward to manufacturing the future ready combat vehicle and Future Infantry Combat Vehicles through these schemes (read as Strategic Partnership model). However, with the kind of Budget that has been allocated, this may get delayed by a few years,” he said.
He also said that budget allocation for strategic roads along the northern borders is falling short. “There is an overall shortfall of around Rs. 12,296 Crore as far as capital is concerned,” he said.
The Committee said that from 2012 onwards the capital component of the defence budget has decreased as compared to the revenue head. The capital outlay meets construction requirements and new procurements, while the revenue allocation meets stores, fuel, ammunition, repairs, etc.
Perimeter Security
In relation to the Sunjuwan attack in J&K, the Committee has highlighted that a worrisome issue is the repeated successes of terrorists infiltrating high security bases. “The Sunjuwan attack exposes the vulnerability in ‘perimeter security’ and the scant progress made in improving security protocols since the attack on the Pathankot Air Force station in January 2016,” it said.
Following Pathankot, there have been major attacks at Uri, Nagrota, besides other places, leading to heavy casualties. The Defence Ministry had appointed a committee headed by Lt Gen Phillip Campose, the then army’s Vice Chief, for reviewing the security setup of military bases and suggesting improvements. The committee had found gaping holes in the setup.
“However, it took a series of attacks and numerous casualties for raising the brows and delegation of power to the Vice Chief (of army) to spend Rs 14,097 crore for strengthening ‘perimeter security’,” said the Committee.
Chand, the current Vice Chief, has criticised the move, saying that there is no separate allocation for this. “So, this money also to be found from the same Budget leaving us with no choice but to re-prioritise either to reduce our requirement as far as the security of military stations are concerned or to go slow on some other acquisition,” he told the Committee.
The Committee adds that the Sunjuwan attack underscores the need for speedy measures, which go beyond ‘inquiries’ and ‘policy announcements’, so as to overhaul the security system. “The implementation needs to be broad-based, and go beyond ‘ad-hoc measures’,” it said.
It also said that it is necessary to equip soldiers on the ground with latest weapons for retaliating to an attack, such as surveillance and tracking systems.