DRDO pulled up over weapon project

The DRDO, facing flak over time and cost overruns in its weapon projects, has been criticised by a House body

Facing flak over time and cost overruns in its crucial weapon projects, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been pulled by a key Parliamentary watchdog committee for awarding contracts on limited tendering.
Observing that such short tendering was in violation of strict Defence Ministry guidelines stipulating open Global Tendering, the Public Accounts Committee has termed the DRDO action as disturbing.

HT Image

Asking the DRDO to strictly monitor the tendering of contracts, the committee asked DRDO to furnish it with reasons for limited tendering, average time taken for placing orders and reasons for going in for short tendering.

In its 39th report placed in Parliament on Friday on Procurement and Utilisation of Plant and Equipment by DRDO labs, the PAC said besides deficient procurement planning, the awarding of contract process in the organisation was also afflicted by serious procedural shortcomings.