CAG raps defence lab for delays that cost govt dear

In its 17-page report,the CAG has raised questions regarding the laboratory’s functioning. “There was no mechanism in place to relate success or failure of projects with personnel deputed on them,which could facilitate the assessment of output of scientists/technical officers… Though ARDE claimed that all the project-related information regarding the achievement of technologies established and manpower involved is documented in Technical Closing Report of projects,ARDE could not furnish this information even for the past five years,” the CAG said in the report.

Saying that time overrun/extension was the norm rather than exception in staff projects,the report said: “Eighty per cent — which is 37 out of 46 closed projects reviewed by the audit — did not adhere to the original time schedule. The number of extensions granted to projects ranged from one to 10 and in terms of number of months — between eight and 146 months. In many cases,extension to probable date of completion (PDC) did not lead to the success of the project.”

Of 46 closed projects over 15 years valuing Rs 387.35 crore,only 13 were completed at Rs 67.83 crore,while in the rest,either no production was required or claims of success could not be substantiated in the audit,the report said.

The report (No 24 of 2011-12) has referred to six projects which ARDE could not complete on time resulting in losses worth crores. “DRDO in 2002 sanctioned a project for undertaking design and development of ammunition for rocket launchers at an estimated cost of Rs 6.35 crore over four years. The Directorate General of Infantry in April 2011 stated that the rocket launchers developed by ARDE were evaluated four times and after each trial,there were defects to be rectified,modifications to be carried out…These rocket launchers along with the ammunition were procured by the Army from Sweden at 859.90 million SEK,” the report said.

In another project related to development of an electronic component for ammunition,which was initiated at a cost of Rs 1.86 crore,delays in development led to the Ministry of Defence entering into a contract with a US firm at a cost of Rs 12.13 crore. “The imported equipment was superior to the one developed by DRDO in terms of reliability and technology,” said the report.

In yet another project involving indigenisation of ammunition C,the report said reliability of the fuse could not be achieved in 12 trials between May 2000-April 2006. “Mass production of the ammunition was expected to result in Foreign Exchange (FE) saving of Rs 760 crore…but the Army ended up spending Rs 340 crore in importing 37,50,000 rounds of ammunition,” the report said.

Besides the delays,the report has pointed at failure in delivering the projects,taking up projects without GSQRs (a prerequisite),change of GSQRs by users — which in this case are the three services and project closures without users’ acceptance as other reasons for failure of projects with ARDE. The report concludes,“ARDE had no mechanism in place to assess the output of its human resource deployed on project activities,it also indicated lack of accountability of personnel towards success or failure of the projects.”

Manish Bharadwaj,scientist and spokesperson,DRDO said,“We are yet to see the report. The director is out of Pune and will not be able to comment unless the DRDO authorities concerned are consulted.