Jun 15, 2016
Recommendations for Transforming Ammunition Management in the Indian Army
The CAD (Central Ammunition Depot) Pulgaon incident of fire on 31 May which led to the loss of 16 lives and tonnes of ammunition is under investigation. The inquiry is likely to bring out a number of recommendations for improvement in stocking and repair of ammunition. In addition the Comptroller and Auditor General of India Report on Ammunition Management in Army for year ended 2013 No. PA 19 of 2015 (Referred to hereafter as CAG Report 2015) has includes many key recommendations in reforming ammunition management for the Army.
Many of these are seen as basic issues which need attention at the appropriate levels to overcome the shortcomings outlined hitherto fore. The recommendations given in the CAG Report 2015 are pragmatic and if undertaken would lead to not only making up the deficiencies in numbers but also quality and upkeep of munitions. These essentially involve putting into place realistic mechanisms for assessing the ammunition requirements and projections for fulfilling the same, modernisation of factories as well as processes, ensuring accountability and fixing responsibility, improvement in quality assurance and computerised inventory management. These are summarised as follows:-
ü Ministry of Defence should evolve a realistic mechanism to ensure ammunition deficiencies are overcome and operational requirement are fully met considering the, “capacity of Ordnance Factories, availability of budget and inescapable requirement of the Army”.
ü Modernisation of Ordnance Factories to augment capacity to produce items required by Army should be undertaken on priority. There would be a requirement of allocation of additional budget to the Ordnance Factories for this purpose.
ü Accountability and responsibility has to be determined, “once production targets for factories are fixed after mutual consultation between Ministry, AHQ and OFB---for subsequent slippages”. Given the turnover of officials in the government as well as the Army there is a need for fixing responsibility each year so that those in chair at the time of occurrence of deficits are held accountable in person. Similar action has been recommended for agencies in the procurement process to ensure, “strict adherence to timelines for procurement as per DPP/DPM.”
ü GSQR should be, “framed after issue of Request for Intent/responses from potential vendors. Detailed matrix of responses vis-à-vis QRs should be prepared and must be highlighted while seeking the AON”.
ü Evolving robust framework of Quality Control and Quality Assurance
ü Urgent action should be taken on Segregated and Repairable Major (RMJ) ammunition. CAG Report 2015 states that, “DGQA should ensure that defect cases are investigated and cleared within the prescribed time frame of three months”.
ü Effective steps should be taken, “to establish environment friendly demilitarisation method for disposal of ammunition and explosives”.
ü Expediting the Computerised Inventory Control Project with a view to, “enhance visibility of assets, speedy issue and receipt,” is another recommendation as the project is overly delayed.
Ammunition Management a General Staff Function. Ammunition management is a General Staff function and cannot be left to the DGOS or the Master General of Ordnance. The General Staff today is coming into the picture when the items have reached a degree of criticality whereas the overall responsibility is to ensure effective monitoring of the procurement-production-supply chain and disposal cycle. Given significant deficiencies in the present system of management, there is a need for periodic review of the processes by the General Staff.
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