Time to wind up DGQA Organisation?

Parwinder Sandhu | Pune
In yet another blow to the Indian Army’s image, the CBI has arrested three persons — including a retired Army officer in the Pune-based Director General of Quality Assurance — for their alleged role in the approval of sub-standard anti-skid chains worth Rs 1.56 crore supplied to the Indian Army.

The anti-skid chains were supplied to the Army between 2006 and 2009 by one Sunil Sharma, owner of Pune-based firm Sharma Enterprises. The officers who have been arrested include deputy director general (administration), New Delhi AJ Pawar, joint controller of quality assurance (heavy vehicles), Avadi Chennai A Prabhakaran and former group officer, vehicle quality assurance wing, Pune Fayazoddin.

Both Pawar and Prabhakaran had been summoned by the CBI for an enquiry in Pune and subsequently arrested. Meanwhile, the third accused is already based in the city.

Superintendent of Police (CBI anti corruption branch) Vidya Kulkarni said the tenders for the supply of chains had been invited by the Directorate General of ordnance supply, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi.

According to Kulkarni, the three arrested accused allegedly misused their official positions, causing undue favor to the supplier by clearing the substandard material. The supply of the substandard chains would have jeopardized the operational capacity of the Indian Army in the battlefield. Apart from operational hazards because of the chains, it also caused a loss of Rs 1.56 crore to the Government.

She stated that almost all the supplies of the chains have been frozen by the Army authorities and MoD.

A Press release issued by the CBI states that the chains are mounted on the tires of vehicles of the Indian Army in snow bound high altitude areas as an anti-skid device.

It is treated as a critical item for operational purposes and any failure in performance of these chains could result in loss of human life and precious consignments of the Army.

The Army internal audit report had confirmed that the 5542 chains supplied were of sub-standard quality, Kulkarni said. The chains did not even have the prescribed weight. The quality of chains would now be independently checked by IIT Powai. Eight chains selected randomly have been sent to the IIT. Report on the quality of the chains would be submitted by the IIT later this month.

Incidentally, the Pune-based firm supplying the chains has also been involved in the supply of sub-standard mudguards worth Rs 5.49 crore to the Indian Army. As many as 4304 low quality mudguards have been supplied to the Army between 2005 and 2007 for the BMP infantry combat vehicles.
Sub-standard equipment for the Armed Forces
Confidence in Defence equipment is created and generated through quality assurance by DGQA Organisation
DGQA

Comment: The Armed Forces Confidence Level of DGQA Organisation is a big ZERO.