Sunday, May 20, 2012

BOFORS GUNS

Gujarat Global News Network, Kolkata
The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) is poised to bridge the near 25-year void of the Indian Army's requirement of artillery guns.
"Today OFB is in a position to offer not only the Bofors gun but even the upgraded version of Bofors gun," Director General Ordnance Factory (DGOF) and Chairman OFB, Shri Sashi Dhar Dimri said on the sidelines of the 210th anniversary of OFB in Kolkata, on Monday.
OFB is readying the upgraded version of Bofors gun from its original 39-calibre to a 45-calibre gun, with mechanical and electronic suite upgrades, for field trials by January 2013.
"We are working on this upgraded version. This has been tried out in PXE (Proof and Experimental Establishment), Balasore." he stated. Extensive firing has been carried out at PXE Balasore as part of the internal evaluation.
"Based on the guns supplied by the army, ab-initio we shall be manufacturing the gun and we are confident that in the beginning of 2013, our GCF (Gun Carriage Factory), Jabalpur will be in a position to field the gun for trial purposes," he said.
While one gun has been upgraded with the electronic suite incorporating ballistic computers, servo valves and communication systems to provide automation, the second gun has been upgraded by fitting a new 45 calibre long barrel, enabling it to achieve a range of 40 kms.
Meanwhile, in a written statement in the Parliament on Monday, Defence Minister Shri AK Antony stated: The government had secured the right of transfer of technology during the purchase of Bofors guns. Though all the technological documents as per the ToT contract were received by OFB from M/s AB Bofors, the Transfer of Technology was not carried forward as the dealings with the technology provider, (M/s AB Bofors) were suspended. Further, no indent was placed by Army on OFB for manufacture and supply of complete gun system.
Capital expenditure of Rs. 376.55 crore has been sanctioned by the Government in March, 2012 for creation/augmentation of Large Calibre Weapon manufacturing capacity in Ordnance Factories.



Thursday, May 17, 2012



Parliamentary Panel Confirms Lack of Critical Equipment and Military Preparedness







The Defence Ministry’s insensitivity towards the requirements of the Indian Army has been once again exposed as the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence revealed the bleak state of India’s military preparedness. In the report tabled in the Parliament, the committee has strongly recommended immediate attention on the issue of shortage of armaments with the Army at various fronts.
 
The Parliamentary Standing Committee’s report only corroborates the Army Chief’s concern which was the lack of army-aviation, tank ammunition and artillery for the army. Despite the Defence Minister trashing all reports concerning critical shortages in the army as rumours and the Annual Defence Report 2011-12 painting a bright picture of the Indian Army and its capabilities, the cat is finally out of the bag.
 
The Committee’s report has indicated that there are huge gaps between the sanctioned and existing aircraft with the Army Aviation. As per the report, the Indian Army is short of 155 helicopters. As for the existing Cheetah/Chetak helicopters which are used for maintenance at high-altitude forward bases, these are also reaching obsolescence and need replacement. However, no new choppers are in sight for the army as the tender for 197 helicopters was scrapped in 2007 and the new tender is about to meet the same fate. The report stated that there is shortage of 18 Cheetah, 1 Chetak, 76 Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) and 60 Advance Light Helicopter (Weapons Systems Integrated) with Army Aviation.
 
Regarding the issue of tank ammunition and artillery, the committee has agreed with the Indian Army Chief’s contention and the critical shortage in this area. Following the blacklisting of the Israeli Military Industries (IMI), the problem has become magnified. There has been major depletion in the Indian Army’s armored piercing tank ammunition following the blacklisting of the Israeli Firm IMI. The army was relying on IMI for its ammunition after the state-run Ordnance Factory Board’s ammunition failed to pass the trials.
 

The Committee has also remarked on the issue of artillery guns stating that the up gradation of the Bofors 155mm guns has taken a long time and several years have passed after the transfer of technology.  The Committee was appalled to see such a deficiency of gun systems in the army and how the military preparedness is being compromised in the country. Currently, OFB has been handed over the project.
 
While three new defense deals pertaining to sub-machine guns, thermal imagers and target designators for the Indian Army have been signed to boost the surveillance and firepower capabilities, these deals are barely significant compared to the mega deals for the Air Force and the Navy. Hence, fast-tracking of procurements for the Indian Army must be top priority, the report added.
Top
  CAG raps MoD for reckless spending
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 8
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has ripped apart the Ministry of Defence for recklessly spending crores of rupees and impacting operational preparedness of the forces.

The CAG report on Army, Ordnance factories and DRDO tabled in Parliament yesterday said that the MoD purchased vintage, non-working missiles, allowed setting up of a gun-making unit that does not manufacture guns and even “maintained” products that do not exist in the inventory.
“…the Ministry does not appear to be serious about implications… of defective equipment,” the CAG report said. Pointing out the lackadaisical attitude of the Defence Public Sector Undertakings established to provide the Armed Forces with state-of-the-art equipment, the CAG says there has been a “role reversal”.
The Ministry procured outdated missiles of 1970s worth Rs 587 crore in 2008 merely to favour Bharat Dynamics Limited. “…The missiles procured were not only of lower capabilities in terms of range, but also did not meet the Army’s long-term objective of acquiring third generation missiles which were available in the market,” the Comptroller and Auditor General said.
The CAG also commented on procurement of the Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher System (SMERCH), often proudly displayed at the Republic Day parade. The Rs 2633 crore system has critical defects. Similarly, the Ordnance Factory at Korwa in Amethi was sanctioned Rs 408 crore to produce new generation carbines -- guns with rapid firing capability -- for the Army. However, the type of carbine to be produced is yet to be decided.
Unexplainably, the Army paid for the maintenance of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles that which were not even held by it. In another case, it procured spares for a particular gun and later found those to be non-compatible and hence could not be fitted in the gun.
The CAG also pointed out at defective ammunition worth Rs 245 crore lying unused for six years. Another typical case of defective purchase was procurement of oxygen mask-embedded helmets used by chopper pilots operating at altitudes of beyond 14,000 feet. The oxygen masks had to be withdrawn as pilots experienced serious defects like insufficient supply of oxygen. The masks were purchased with an evaluation.
Appallingly, assault boats required urgently by the Army could not be procured for over six years despite a budget and adequate number of vendors. 
1. ORDNANCE FACTORIES
Unstarred 4876
26/4/2010

(a) the quantum of defence production made by the ordnance factories vis-à-vis the defence requirements;

(b) whether the Government proposes to modernise and expand the ordnance factories;

(c) if so, the details thereof including the plan, if any, to utilize the acquired land in Badmal ordnance factory for expansion;

(d) the funds earmarked, allocated and spent on the modernisation programme separately and the future action plan to achieve the required level of indigenisation of defence systems;

(e) whether the Government proposes to set up new ordnance factories in this regard; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE (SHRI M.M. PALLAM RAJU)

(a) The quantum of defence production made by Ordnance

Factories for last three years is given below:

Year Value of Issues(Rs. in crores)
2007-2008 5757
2008-2009 6083
2009-2010 8720
(b) Ordnance Factories are being modernised continuously to keep pace with development of technology. Army & MHA have recently indicated long term requirements, which are substantially higher than the present production level. As such, OFB has undertaken action to augment the capacity wherever required.

(c) & (d):The planned investment for modernisation of Plant & Machinery in Ordnance Factories in 11th & 12th Plan and cumulative expenditure upto January 2010 are furnished as under:
Investment Plan for expenditure modernization Plan (Rupees in Crore) Planned Expenditure during XIth 2010 during XI th Plan (Rupees in crore) Cumulative expenditure Upto January Plan (Rupees in crore) Planned during XIIth
  1,707.50 970.24 2,100
At present, no expansion is planned at OF Badmal.

(e) & (f): At present, there is no proposal to set up a new ordnance factory.
2. REVIEW OF PERFOMANCE OF ORDNANCE FACTORIES:
Unstarred Question 2061
20/7/2009

(a) Whether the Government has reviewed the performance of ordnance factories in the country;

(b) If so, the details thereof;

(c) The targets set and achievements made by each ordnance factory, including the ordnance factory at Saintala, Bolangir during the last three years; and

(d) The steps taken to increase the production capacity of the factories?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (SHRI M.M. PALLAM RAJU)

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. The performance of Ordnance Factories is regularly reviewed by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and the Ministry of Defence at various levels.A production review meeting is held by OFB once in two months in which the performance of ordnance factories is reviewed in detail.The overall performance is reviewed by the Ministry of Defence at various levels.There are also steering committees at the Ministry’s level and working groups at the OFB level for reviewing the progress of major projects such as MBT Arjun, Ordnance Factory, Nalanda, Ordnance Factory, Korwa and the Pinaka Rocket Project.

(c) The factory-wise targets and achievements for the last 3 years including Ordnance Factory, Bolangir are detailed in the Annexure.

(d) Ordnance Factory Board has recently worked out production capacity of Ordnance Factories based on long term requirement of ammunitions and armoured vehicles projected by Indian Army.Action has been taken to augment capacity for production by positioning plant and machinery and manpower to meet the requirement.
http://164.100.47.132/Annexture/lsq15/2/au2061.htm
3. UNUSED LAND IN DEFENCE PRODUCTION UNITS
Unstarred Question 1247
13/7/2009

(a)whether large acreages of lands are lying unused in various Defence production units in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof, including the unused lands in the ordnance factory at Saintala in Orissa;

(c) Whether any action plan has been formulated to utilize the surplus lands; and

(d) if not, the steps taken to surrender the surplus lands for other developmental purposes?
ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE (SHRI M.M. PALLAM RAJU) MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(a) No, Sir.

(b to (d) Do not arise.

 

Monday, May 14, 2012







  












The delivery of the six Scorpene submarines, which are being constructed at the Mazagon Dock
Limited, Mumbai, has been revised and the first vessel will be ready by June 2015, the government
 told the Lok Sabha today.

In a written reply on delivery of the submarines being constructed under Project-75, Defence
Minister A K Antony said, "The delivery schedule of the first submarine has been revised to June
2015 and that of the last submarine to September 2018."

The original delivery schedule of the first submarine was December 2012 and remaining were to be
delivered with a gap of one year each.

"Consequent to the approval of the government for revision of cost and delivery schedule, the
delivery schedule of the first submarine has been revised," he said.

The government approval for construction of the six submarines at MDL under Project-75 was
accorded in September 2005 at a total cost of Rs 18,798 crore and the contract was signed in
 October 2005, Antony said.

The "government approval for revision in cost of the project to Rs 23,562 crore was accorded
in February 2010 along with revision in delivery schedule," he said.

Delay in construction is attributable to initial teething problems in absorption of new technology,
delay in augmentation of industrial infrastructure at MDL and delay in procurement of items due
to high cost as compared to the earlier indicated cost, Antony said.

"Most of the teething problems have been resolved and various plans have been put in place to
 minimise delays," he told the House.

On transfer of technology (ToT), Antony said, "As part of TOT, a technical data package has
been provided by the collaborator (French firm DCNS). This will enable attainment of significant
indigenous competence in submarine construction in the field of hull fabrication, outfitting, system
 integration by the end of the programme."

Replying to a question on ordnance factory fires, Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam
Raju said the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) has taken cognisance of all incidents of fire
 and blasts in ordnance factories and put in place preventive measures to avoid recurrence.

"In every case of fire/blast, Ordnance Factory Organisation has conducted a preliminary investigation
and constituted a statutory board of inquiry with proper terms of reference to find out the cause of
such incidents and to suggest remedial measures," Raju said.

In most of the cases, it is noted that the probable cause of accident was either due to mechanical
failure of the equipment or due to non-observance of safety regulations by the person concerned at
that point of time, he told the House.

"All the remedial measures as suggested by the statutory board of inquiry are being implemented
within stipulated time after their acceptance by the competent authority. Stringent safety audits are
also carried out to prevent recurrence of such incidents," he said.
Fresh Evidence

New Delhi: Three weeks after the CBI arrested former chief of the Ordnance Factory Board Sudipta Ghosh, crucial pieces are gradually fitting into the jigsaw of procurements and pay-offs in what the agency calls the “biggest corruption scandal in recent times”.
The progress in the CBI probe assumes significance since the Government has put on hold procurement from the seven companies under the scanner — four international and three domestic. Army chief General Deepak Kapoor has already said that India’s artillery upgrade has been delayed waiting for what the CBI comes up with.
Key to the investigation are transcripts of intercepted conversations and testimonies of Ghosh and four of his associates, all of whom are behind bars. Sources have confirmed to The Sunday Express that “forensic matching” of voice samples from the five suspects has been done and that all accused except Pradeep Rana — one of Ghosh’s associates — have admitted to having played a role either as middlemen for the OFB chief or as conduits for alleged payoffs.

Saturday, May 12, 2012



Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Defence production made by Ordnance Factories



The quantum of defence production made by Ordnance Factories for last three years is given below:-

Year
Values of Issues
(In Rs. Crores)
2007 - 2008
5757
2008 - 2009
6083
2009 - 2010
8720

  
Ordnance Factories are being modernised continuously to keep pace with development technology. Army & MHA have recently indicated long term requirements, which are substantially higher than the present production level. As such, OFB has undertaken action to augment the capacity wherever required.

  
The planned investment for modernisation of Plant & Machinery in Ordnance Factories in 11th & 12th Plan and cumulative expenditure upto January 2010 are furnished as under:

Investment Plan for Modernisation
Planned expenditure during XI th Plan (in Rs.Crore)
Cumulative Expenditure upto January 2010 during XI th Plan (In Rs.Crore)
Planned expenditure during XII th Plan (In Rs.Crore)
-
1,707.50
970.24
2,100

  
At present, no expansion is planned at OF Badmal and there is no proposal to set up a new Ordnance Factory.

   This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju in a written reply to Shri Rakesh Singh and others in Lok Sabha today

One JWMs Anguish from TRICHY

, 2012

Every Junior Workas Managers of Ordnance Factories are not happy with OFB,since they are not treated  as Group B' Gazetted Officers. Calling them as gazetted but treating them as supervisory staff without providing the supervisory benefits . So they feel they are neigheer Gazetted officers nor Supervisosry Staff. As on date there is no Seniority List. The present JWMs are from the direct UPSC recruitees with degree qualition and few are merged AFs,SH and FMs with or with out degree or diploma qualifiction  with out any financial benefits from the merger, and the promotees of CMs with out fixed qualification got promotional benefits and some are passed limited departmental examintion. So fixing seniority is a problem. The merged people got the seniority with effect from 1-3-2006 , even thouth they were merged in 2011. The persons promoted or recruited people after march 2006 are going to be juniors and the case is  at court. OFB is not having any seniorrty policy and takes decisions as per their convenance and encourages people to approach courts. At the same time there is no transfer policy. Merged people feels that they lost the promotional benefits and their juniors got promotional benefits. The degree holders feel that they are forced to work under less qualified people.
OFB made these JWMs are bunch of qualified to unqualified, thus created a lot confusion.
One JWM has to work under one  more just senior JWM, thus created an unrest. This senior JWM who acts as HOS, initiates the ACR report of his junior JWM.
 Most of the decisions are taken by the Higher up at OFB and not bothers to consult the GMs, who are supposed to feel the heat of unrest ,at factory production level.So most of GMs are not happy and not able to answer the problems of JWMs. There is no carreer planing and cadre restructure for these supervisory cadre of CM & JWMs at OFB. Only two functional posts for supervisory cadre and more than 6  functional posts for officer cadre and more than 4 functional posts for Industrial cadre. This  is how OFB functions. Really can they meet the defence needs in case of emergency of war with neighbour countries.MOD feel most of the OF products are substandard and costly and they won't get in time 
OFB functions with old drawings with fixed products, with out any development. There is no Design and Development department and procurement process.
 Some one questions the role of  UPSC recruited IOFS cadre in ordnance factories ? The product is fixed along with manufacturing methods with machines, The Industrial employees are performing these things.The existing supervisory staff guides them in production. Then what is the role of these IOFS cadre is not know. Practially the GMs and Supervisory staff are performing the duties along with the industrial staff. In many fadctorties, the GMs approaches directly, the line supervisors for producting and the existing AGMs,JT.GMs,DGM,AWMs are only arnmental in the organisation.and passing the time with perks and status with out any duties and responsibilities. People say that these IOFS cadre is neither technically sound nor administratively sound... Now days  factories are giving the  group D employees jobs.to privatge parfties in the name of out sourcing. Similarly the some of the products are giving to the private parties. So where is the work for these IOFS cadre, other than passing time.
In the past one DGOF post is there,. Now one chairman / DGOF post and more than 5 member posts, created for getting better perks and facilities with out any responsibilities and accountability.
NOW  WHO  SAVES THIS ORGANISATION ?

NDGBGOA's Letter regartding JWMs problems of OFB

The New Association for JWMs of OFB started to take up the issues of JMSs .Association name is NATIONAL DEFENCE GROUP B GAZETTED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.


To
The Chairman,
Ordnance Factory Board,                             Through-The General Manager/----------
10-A,S.K.Bose road,
Kolkatta.
 Sir
Sub: Earnest Pleas for reprisal of Grievances of “JUNIOR WORKS MANAGER”-Reg
          The Executive Committee of this Association directed the undersigned to request your kind intervention and necessary action for the following points at the earliest please.

              Ordnance Factory Board  on 04/02/2011 published the merger of the posts of AF (4358Group B Non Gazetted post) with JWM Technical  (2553 GroupB Gazetted posts) and FM NT/SH(653 Group B Non Gazetted posts) with JWM NT/ST(131 Group B Gazetted posts)  and declared all as Group B Gazetted  as JWM Tech/NT/Store (Total 7694 posts) .It is a matter of grave concerned that there are no directives for demarcation of duties to be performed by the 7694 JWM. It is relevant to mention that 5010 no’s of AF/FM/SH who were shop floor level supervisory cadre were merged with 2684 no’s of JWM of managerial cadre. As a result some JWM continue to function as Heads of Sections while the remaining, read those that became JWMs after the mergers continue to do what they did as Chargeman/AF/FM/SH. It is painful that even after more than a year of publishing the order of merger, there are no clear guidelines regarding duties and responsibility of JWM.
       This being so, JWM (Tech,NT,ST) who are continuing to  be detailed for shop floor level supervision like operation of plants/process buildings/workshop directly along with IES in three shifts and for clerical work in different offices  have not been granted the financial benefit of OTA, NDA, APLB and Festival advance like supervisory staff like CM,MCM,LDC,UDC,OS. If this is not injustice, then what is? After being termed as JWM from AF, CM and OS, the nature of work has not getting changed; on the contrary our responsibilities have only increased. This is after 30% to 40% of the emoluments were slashed in the form of termination of Overtime allowances and NDA without career prospects. Monthly/yearly income of JWM by means of salary and other allowances is very less compared to their subordinate employees. In every organization the pay packets for different cadres of employees are made according to their nature of work, responsibility, and accountability. It is intriguing to note that in Ordnance Factories, a JWM has to shoulder the higher responsibility that goes with a Gazetted post without the accompanying financial benefits which is an insult to the entire cadre. This is an unhealthy and unwelcome trend. Needless to mention that it is smeared all over with injustice and partisanship.                                                                    

                                                                 

           It is relevant to mention that till 4th Central Pay Commission (1994) erstwhile Foreman (now JWM) were granted basic pay was fixed higher than basic pay of a Direct Entry group A cadre. During that period a FM was bestowed with all financial benefits like OTA, NDA, BONUS and he worked wholeheartedly for the organization but the middle management which is the back bone of the organization was not granted the required financial benefits resulting in demoralization. The comparative studies of pay scales of erstwhile Foreman (now JWM) and AWM are furnished below.

                          Post
Pay Scale
2nd CPC
Pay Scale
3RDCPC
Pay Scale
4TH CPC
Pay Scale
5TH  CPC
Pay Band & Grade pay
Allotted initially as per 6TH  CPC
       Amended  later
          Awm           
         (Group A)
355-480
700-1600
2200-4000
8000-12000
15600-39100PB III with GP-5400
     Nil
                Foreman/          JWM
450-580
840-1600
2375-3500
7450-11500
9300-34800 PB II with GP-4600
Anomaly-Required To
 be amended to PB  III
               

            It is pertinent to mention that in 5th CPC JWMs (Group B Gazetted) were placed 7450-11500 in the pre-revised pay scale where as Matron and Hindi officers were placed 6500-10500 which was very lower as compared to JWM pay scale.  But latter the pay structure of Matron and Hindi officers was amended and placed in PB III at 5400 Grade Pay.  The comparative pay scales are furnished below for your reference.

                          Post
Pay Scale
2nd CPC
Pay Scale
3RDCPC
Pay Scale
4TH CPC
Pay Scale
5TH  CPC
Pay Band & Grade pay
Allotted initially as per 6TH  CPC
       Amended later  
                                               Matron                
210-320
455-700
1640-2900
6500-10500
9300-34800 PBII with GP-4200
PB-III (15600-39100)
         Hindi Officer
No post
No post
1640-2900
6500-10500
9300-34800 PBII with GP-4200
PB-III (15600-39100)
                Foreman  /JWM
450-580
840-1600
2375-3500
7450-11500
9300-34800 PB II with GP-4600
Anomaly-Required To
 be amended to PB  III

               
        As per above comparisons JWM should be placed with 5400 Grade Pay. It will be the real justice for the cadre and will boost up the morale of the middle management cadre which is the backbone of the organization.

                 
         It is relevant to mention that according to the 6th CPC recommendations there should be two levels of technical supervisory cadre among workshop staff. But it just has not happened and one JWM reports to another JWM (HOS) which is ridiculous. It is pathetic that there is no clear policy on hierarchy of posts to run an industrial establishment like Ordnance factories. To maintain the hierarchy in OFB the no of AWM posts may be increased and they may be posted as section heads in Ordnance Factories and on the brighter side prospects of promotion for JWM will enhance.
                                     
                                                


                   JWM/Tech has been classified as Group B Gazetted Ministerial, which is hard to understand given that JWM/Tech is the largest Technical cadre of engineering Officers (total-6911 post) in Ordnance Factory Board. This defies logic and shows lack of clarity in thought. Therefore this association requests your good office to remove the description ‘ministerial cadre’ in the new SRO which is being prepared by OFB for submission.

             It is only through imaginative measures that our Organization can attract talented youngsters to be a part of it and work for the betterment of our Nation.

       Therefore the Executive Committee of NDGBGO Association requests your kind intervention and necessary action on the following genuine demands at the earliest please.

  1. Clear instruction on nature of work of JWM (whether Managerial or Supervisory).
  2. Granting OTA, NDA, and BONUS to JWM cadre.
  3. Removal of description MINISTERIAL CADRE from SRO of JWM
  4. JWM should be placed at grade pay of 5400 in PB III.
  5. Increase in AWM posts for maintaining hierarchy in OFB.
  6. Time scale promotion of JWM.

         The NDGBGOA pleads for your kind intervention and favorable decision at the earliest failing which it may be reluctantly compelled to seek legal recourse.

Thanking you,
                                                                                                                    Yours faithfully,
                                                                                         
Copy to-  
1-HONOURABLE DEFENCE MINISTER                                                                               (SECRETARY)
2-The Secretary, Ministry of Defence ,                                                                   BRANCH
   Deptt. Of Defence Prodn & Supplies.
3-The Secretary,DOPT
3- Central Executive/OFBA