Tatra deal: BEML was a middleman milking the system
by FP Staff Apr 3, 2012
The role of defence public sector undertakings like BEML that are working like middlemen in defence deals, often marking up final prices by 100 percent, is sharply in focus, after a whistleblower told CNN-IBN of the dubious role that BEML played in the Tatra truck deal.
And with one former Army chief claiming that the Army chiefs are kept in the dark about the financial aspects of defence deals, the role of officials in the Ministry of Defence and in defence PSUs may merit a wider investigation.
The tale narrated by the whistleblower is quite revealing.
In 2003, Brigadier (Retd) Inder Mohan Singh, who was then in the Equipment Brach, had raised questions about BEML’s deal with Tatras Sipox UK, the UK-based company owned by Ravi Rishi, for the supply of Tatra trucks to the Army. He had written to ask for details of the price of the trucks, and for copies of the transfer of technology agreement. The very next day, he had a surprise visitor waiting in his office.
“At 9 o clock, when my office had barely opened, a BEML officer was sitting in my office,” Brig IM Singh told CNN-IBN. “He said, ‘Sir, marwadiya sabko’ (You’ve killed everyone).” Asked what he meant, the visitor confided: ‘The letter you faxed yesterday will create a lot of trouble.”
If anything, it was Brig IM Singh who found himself in trouble. His letter, making enquiries about the deal, was cancelled, and he was transferred out of the Equipment Branch.
“The biggest middlemen and the biggest agents are the defence PSUs,” he says. “They do not manufacture anything on their own.”
Defence journalist Ajai Shukla too says that the “real story” in the Tatra case isn’t about the performance of the trucks or about the Czech company. “It is a story that plays out day after day how the defence PSUs – like BEML in this case – take the entire system for a ride as a result of their proximity to the Ministry of Defence.”
What BEML has done, says Shukla, is that it has bought the equipment in knocked down condition overseas, assembled it in India, added in a heavy mark-up in price, forgotten entirely about its promise of indigenisation and sold the trucks to the army at almost twice the price it bought it at.
“You have a Ministry of Defence official sitting on the board of BEML, and when BEML asks for a procurement to be done or a particular supply order to be given, it is almost always granted,” says Shukla.
“There are just two scandals in the Tatra case,” he adds. The first is BEML’s conduct. The other is how the Ministry of Defence allowed BEML to get away with this from the late 1980s until today. “It took a Gen VK Singh to disrupt this chain of scams that has been going on – and say we must consider an alternative.”
Former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sudhir Kumar, who has dealt with similar cases in the past, too concurs that the Tatra case highlights the fact that PSUs function “almost like middlemen.” A large number of PSUs have converted themselves into agency operations, he adds.
Former Army chief, Gen Shankar Roychowdhury confided that the financial details of defence deals were not typically known to the Army Chief. Which is why when he served as Army chief, he had not objected to the Tatra truck deal: all he was concerned with was the vehicle’s performance, and he was well pleased with it.
Shukla says that the focus should now turn to the role of the BEML and officials in the Ministry of Defence.
Tatra deal: BEML was a middleman milking the system
Showing posts with label Beijing National Stadium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beijing National Stadium. Show all posts
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Friday, August 8, 2008
The great indian hope trick
Here's the billion rupee question to ask before you settle in front of your TV sets later today to watch the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics: will India defend its record of sending the largest Olympic contingent only to fetch the least number of medals? The answer - unless, of course, you're the sort who believes everything in this world to be maya - is a pretty resounding yes. But even if it's in hushed tones, India does have medal hopes in its star-studded shooting squad and some skillful archers and boxers.
China owes its sports superpower status to a decades-long policy aimed at gaining supremacy in world sport. While Indians half-heartedly try to clip seconds, the Chinese cut whole minutes.
To change the face of Indian sport, we must first change our mindset. Infusion of new ideas, and hiring top notch planners and coaches are crucial - as is, of course, respect for our sporting heroes long after they have hung up their spikes.
The upside: we have nothing to lose but Olympic shame. The Sports Authority of India is part of the great Indian rope trick!
The great indian hope trick
Defence Forces: From times immemorial, the soldier has always reveled in sporting activities. With the evolution of the modern army fame in the area of sports field brought prestige to the Armed Forces. In the last three decades, one has seen a steady decline in standards. The unit level sports and games has steadily taken a back seat. The reason is not difficult to fathom: The Generals and Commanders show least interest and have no time to encourage sports and games, as most of their energies are directed towards their own career profiling and enhancing their promotional avenues.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Beijing 2008: The Games of the XXIX Olympiad
The Olympic Rings
As an image of Olympism, Coubertin thought the rings had deep significance: that of the union between men. He multiplied the image to create a total of five rings. He designed and commissioned the Olympic flag to mark the 20th anniversary of the IOC's founding, on 23rd June 1914 in Paris.
The Olympic Movement
On 23 June, 1894, Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee in a ceremony held at the University of Sorbonne in Paris. Demetrius Vikelas from Greece became the first president of the IOC. Two years later, in 1896, the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in Athens.
Emblem
Every emblem of the Olympics tells a story. The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games emblem "Chinese Seal, Dancing Beijing" is filled with Beijing's hospitality and hopes, and carries the city's commitment to the world.
Theme
Slogan"One World One Dream" expresses the common wishes of people all over the world, inspired by the Olympic ideals, to strive for a bright future of Mankind. In spite of the differences in colors, languages and races, we share the charm and joy of the Olympic Games, and together we seek for the ideal of Mankind for peace.
IOC member: Beijing Games will be spectacular
Dola Banerjee, Pranitha Vardhineni, L Bombayala Devi, Mangal Singh Champia.
Anju Bobby George (Long Jump), Krishna Poonia (Discus), Harwant Kaur (Discus), Preeja Sreedharan (10,000m), Manjit Kaur (400m), Chitra Soman (4x400m relay), Sini Jose (4x400m relay), MR Poovamma (4x400m relay), Mandeep Kaur (4x400m relay), S Geeta (4x400m relay), K Mridula (4x400m relay), J J Shobha (Heptathlon), Sushmita Singh Roy (Heptathlon), G G Pramila (Heptathlon), Vikas Gowda (Discus), Renjith Maheswary (Triple Jump), Surender Singh (10000m).
Anup Sridhar, Saina Nehwal
Jitender (51kg), Akhil Kumar (54kg), A L Lakhra (57kg), Vijender(75kg) and Dinesh Kumar (81kg)
Khumujam Tombi Devi, Divya.
Bajrang Lal Takhar (Single M1X), Devnder Khandwal and Manjeet Singh (Light Weight Double Scull)
Manavjit Singh Sandhu (Clay Pigeon Trap), Mansher Singh (Clay Pigeon Trap), Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (Clay Pigeon Double Trap), Gagan Narang (10m Air Rifle), Abhinav Bindra (10m Air Rifle), Samresh Jung (10m Air Pistol), Sanjeev Rajput (50m Rifle 3 Position), Anjali Bhagwat (50m Rifle 3 Position), Avneet Kaur Sidhu (10m Air Rifle)
Virdawal Khade (50m, 100m, 200m Freestyle), Ankur Poseria (100m Butterfly), Sandeep Sejwal (100m, 200m Breaststrokes), Rehan Poncha (200m butterfly)
Achanta Sharath Kamal, Neha Aggarwal.
Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi (doubles), Sania Mirza (singles and doubles), Sunitha Rao (doubles)
L Monika Devi (69kg)
Sushil Kumar (66 kg Freestyle), Yogeshwar Dutt (60 kg Freestyle), Rajiv Tomar (120 kg Freestyle)
Major NS Johal (Heavyweight Dinghy)
All the best to Indian Olympic Team
Monday, January 14, 2008
Prime Minister visit to Olympic Site Beijing
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh with the Chinese Premier, Mr. Wen Jiabao at a joint press statement, in Great Hall of People, Beijing in China on January 14, 2008.2008 Summer Olympics National Stadium Beijing, China
The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh visited the Beijing Olympic site at 16:39 IST, 14 Jan 2008 and following is the text of the Prime Minister’s Inscription in the Visitors book.
“On Behalf of the Government and the people of India, I extend my best wishes for the success of the Olympic games in Beijing. I hope that the Olympic spirit and the traditional hospitality and warmth of the great city of Beijing will promote friendship, peace and understanding among all the Participants, and the countries they represent”
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad will be celebrated from August 8, 2008 to August 24, 2008, with the opening ceremony commencing at 08:08:08 pm at the Beijing National Stadium in Beijing, People's Republic of China. Some events, including football (soccer), sailing, and new 10 km marathon swimming events will be held in other cities of China. With the equestrian events being held in Hong Kong, this marks the second time the same edition of the Olympic Games has been hosted by two National Olympic Committees.
The centerpiece of the 2008 Summer Olympics will be the Beijing National Stadium, nicknamed the "Bird Nest" because of its nest-like skeletal structure. Construction of the venue began on December 24, 2003. The Guangdong Olympic Stadium was originally planned, constructed, and completed in 2001 for the Games, but a decision was made to construct a new stadium in Beijing. Government officials engaged architects worldwide in a design competition. A Swiss firm, Herzog de Meuron Architekten AG, collaborated with China Architecture Design and Research Group to win the competition. The National Stadium will feature a lattice-like concrete skeleton forming the stadium bowl and will have a seating capacity of 80,000 people.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
