New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) was
on Thursday reprimanded by the CAG for causing damage to an aerostat
radar deployed along the Pakistan border to monitorlow-flying
enemy aircraft resulting in a loss of Rs 302 crore.
In its report tabled today in Parliament, the CAG said
the accident took place in May 2009 due to "failure" of its
three officers and the critical radar is likely to get
operational only by the end of next year.
The accident has hit the surveillance capabilities of the
IAF with one of its two aerostat radars procured from Israel
getting damaged.
The report said a Court of Inquiry to investigate the
causes of the accident involving the Rs 338 crore aerostat
"held three officers responsible for their failure in adequate
supervision" of the maintenance activities.
"All the three officers were awarded severe displeasure
(censured) for six months as they failed to carry out their
responsibilities," the report said.
Slamming the Air Force for the mishap, the CAG said the
repair of the damaged system is estimated to cost Rs 302
crore.
"The recovery programme of the damaged aerostat would
take 18 months from the commencement of repair work. However,
the IAF could issue the RFP to vendor for damage assessment in
April 2010 and the contract was not concluded by June 2011,"
it said.
The CAG said that by the time IAF makes the aerostat
operational by 2012, 80 per cent of its prescribed life would
have been completed.
The government auditor said against the authorised four
meteorological officers and nine meteorological assistants,
"the Unit had no meteorological officers and only two
meteorological assistants were there."
PTI
