CAG says submarines hit by delay in buying spares

The comptroller and auditor general (CAG) on Friday slammed the government for unreasonable delays in projects that compromised the navy's ability to fully exploit its Russian-origin Kilo-class submarines and also hit the training of air force pilots.

The comptroller and auditor general (CAG) on Friday slammed the government for unreasonable delays in projects that compromised the navy's ability to fully exploit its Russian-origin Kilo-class submarines and also hit the training of air force pilots.

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In a report tabled in Parliament, the national auditor condemned the defence ministry over its failure to indigenise heavy-duty Tatra trucks used for carrying missiles, a target that should have should have achieved in 1991. The trucks were at the centre of a controversy in 2012 when former army chief General VK Singh had alleged that he was offered Rs 14 crore for clearing sub-standard Tatra vehicles.

On the Kilo-class submarines, the CAG report said while the demand for spares was projected in March 2007, but could be contracted only in August 2010 at an extra cost of Rs 2.94 crore.

"However, the deliveries were yet (April 2014) to materialise," the report stated, adding that it resulted in a consequential fallout on the "maintainability/exploitation" of the submarines.

Of the 24 naval mishaps reported during the last three years, the worst accidents involved Kilo-class submarines - INS Sindhurakshak and INS Sindhuratna.

The report said delay in development of the intermediate jet trainer by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had adversely affected pilot training.