Government of India has decided to modernise all the seven Central Ordnance Depots located at Agra, Mumbai, Chheoki, Delhi Cantonment, Dehu Road, Jabalpur and Kanpur in a phased manner. To begin with, modernisation of Central Ordnance Depot, Kanpur involving an expenditure of Rs 187 crore approximately has been taken up. This project would be completed by December, this year. A sum of Rs 41 crore has been released upto the last financial year for modernisation of this Ordnance Depot. During the tenth Five Year Plan, it is proposed to take up the modernisation of three more Central Ordnance Depots at Agra, Jabalpur and Delhi Cantonment at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore each.

This information was given by Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes in a written reply to Mr Iqbal Ahmed Saradgi in Lok Sabha.

The Government sanction for setting up an ordnance factory at Rajgir, Bihar was issued on November 29, 2001.

About 2879 acres of land has been acquired and construction work at the site is in progress. An expenditure of Rs 61.34 crore has been incurred towards acquisition of land. A sum of Rs. 9.46 crore has been released to Government of Bihar for rehabilitation of displaced persons. The expenditure incurred on construction work so far is approximately Rs 15 crore. Documents for transfer of technology from M/s Somchem, South Africa have been received. The requirement of manpower is yet to be firmed up.

This information was given by Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes in a written reply to Mr Ram Prasad Singh and Dr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh in Lok Sabha.

The Indian Navy and Royal Singapore Navy participated in the fifth IN-RSN exercise off Kochi from March 2 to 13 last. Besides, Indian Naval Ships and Iranian ships participated in the Passing Exercises (PASSEX) on March 10 last in Mumbai. Such exercises are carried out between navies during goodwill visits which involve the visiting ships and ships of the host Navy. These are basic communication and procedural exercises to promote goodwill and understanding of each other's communication drills and procedures.

This information was given by Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes in a written reply to Mr Sadashivrao Dadoba Mandlik and others in Lok Sabha.

Instant typhoid detection kit has been developed by scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation. The testing kit is based on DNA technology for a rapid detection to typhoid infection from patient’s serum.

Presently the kit is not being used by any hospital as it is still under evaluation by many premier medical research institutes. The stage has not yet reached for its mass scale application in hospitals.

This information was given by Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes in a written reply to Mr KP Singh Deo in Lok Sabha.

The process of demining in the agricultural land bordering Pakistan in J&K, Punjab and Rajasthan, still continues and only after their cleaning the land would be restored to the respective owners in the presence of State revenue officials and village authorities.

A sum of Rs 37.1 crore to J&K, Rs 74.58 crore to Punjab and Rs 54.32 crore to Rajasthan has been sanctioned so far as crop compensation and rental to the State Governments for damages that occured to the crop due to occupation of land in connection with the mobilisation of Armed Forces in the border areas of these states.

This information was given by Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes in a written reply to Mr Rajkumar Dhoot and others in Rajya Sabha.

Indian Air Force (IAF) has received IL-78 air-to-air refueller. One IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRA) has been received and five more IL-78 FRA are to be received and inducted into the IAF.

The training is being imparted within the country based on the syllabus which has since been formulated.

This information was given by Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes in a written reply to Mr. Rama Muni Reddy Sirigireddy in Rajya Sabha.

During the last three years, 449, 487 and 636 ex-Servicemen of Rajasthan were provided re-employment in the central government, state government, public sector undertakings of central government and state governments, local bodies and in private sector respectively.

This information was given by Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes in a written reply to Mr Aimaduddin Ahmed Khan (Durru) in Rajya Sabha.

Government proposes to build French-designed Scorpene submarine at Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai and is negotiating with M/s Armaris–a French company in this regard. There is no proposal to purchase submarines from France. The French collaborator has been chosen on the basis of the design of the submarine and its ability and competence in supplying associated equipment.

This information was given by Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes in a written reply to Prof Alka Balram Kshatriya and others in Rajya Sabha.

There is no fresh report of Pakistan having moved its artillery nearer international border. However, deployment of Pakistan's artillery close to LoC is a permanent feature. Firing of artillery and mortar by Pakistan across the LoC is an ongoing process during which, at times, Pakistan targets the border villages to cause civilian casualties and damages.

The government is aware of the anxiety and concern of the inhabitants of border areas, and has redeployed the Armed Forces on the international border with Pakistan without impairing their capacity to respond decisively to any emergency and without lowering of the vigil in Jammu and Kashmir.

This information was given by Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes in a written reply to Dr Prabha Thakur in Rajya Sabha.

There were 21 incidents of violation of Indian air space by Pakistan's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) between January 1, 2000 and April 3, 2003. The Indian Air Force has the requisite air defence mechanism in place to monitor and thwart intrusions by any aircraft. Protests are also lodged with the concerned country through diplomatic channels.

This information was given by Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes in a written reply to Mr Lalit Suri in Rajya Sabha.

The number of infiltration attempts foiled and terrorists killed by the security forces along the LoC and international border in Jammu and Kashmir were 96 last year and terrorists killed while infiltrating in the same year were 311. The infiltration attempts foiled this year is eight so far and terrorists killed while infiltrating is 16.

There have been no physical skirmishes between Indian troops and Pakistani Rangers during the construction of border fence. The length of the Indo-Pak border fenced so far is 457.15 kms along Punjab, 1048.27 kms along Rajasthan, 40 kms along Jammu and Kashmir and 54 kms along Gujarat. While fencing has been completed along Punjab and Rajasthan, work is still in progress along Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat.

This information was given by Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes in a written reply to Mr DP Yadav in Rajya Sabha.

During the years 2000-2001, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003, the Ordnance Factory Board and Defence Public Sector Undertakings have exported their products and services worth US$ (million) 42.23, 33.58 and 45.22 (provisional) respectively. Besides, the Defence Exhibition Organisation has earned US $ (million) 1.57 and 2.31 in 2000-2001 and 2002-2003 respectively through booking of space to foreign participants in Aero India-2001 and 2003.

The Ordnance Factory Board and the Defence Public Sector Undertakings have been exporting some of their products for several years after meeting domestic requirements. Products are exported mainly to countries in Asia and Africa. The items include helicopters, helicopter and aircraft spares, spares for rifles and guns, clothing, parachutes and accessories, aeronautical stores, communication equipment, night vision devices, bollard pull tug, components and sub-systems. Some products have been exported to countries in Europe and North America. India is also capable of exporting offshore patrol vessels, training ships, survey vessels, anti-tank guided missiles, launchers, test equipment and simulators.

This information was given Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes in a written reply to Dr Akhilesh Das in Rajya Sabha.

There has been some shortage of officers in the Armed Forces. The present shortage of officers in the Army is 12554, 515 in Air Force and 1098 personnel in Navy.

The valiant image of the Armed Forces is consistently projected through the electronic and print media. The Directorate of Public Relations of Ministry of Defence regularly interacts with media-persons while giving Defence related information to ensure a positive publicity. Regular coverage of defence related events in the print and electronic media goes a long way in generating awareness among the masses and motivating the youth to join the Armed Forces. Websites are also operative on the Internet providing information on career in the three Services.

This information was given by Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes in a written reply to Mr Virendra Kumar in Lok Sabha.