Odisha retaliates to DRDO insensitivity to Odisha’s development
Defence establishments, Odisha govt. action July 23rd. 2011, 7:32pmFollowing is an excerpt from a report in Pioneer.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has made it clear to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Director General VK Saraswat that his Government would not allow use of the State’s coastline for carrying out seaward artillery practice and manoeuvres.
This is the State Government’s reaction to the objection raised by the DRDO to the setting up of three minor ports in Balasore. If the DRDO is not bothered about the State’s development, what is the point in giving permission to use its coastline, Patnaik reportedly told Saraswat when both met here on Thursday.
… The DRDO had been conducting field firing and artillery practice along the seacoast in the districts of Balasore and Bhadrak since long. The State Government was giving permission to the DRDO without any objections. This time, however, the State Government refused permission for the purpose, as a result of which no field firing and artillery practice has taken place since April, 2011.
… “Our appeal to the Centre seeking the DRDO’s no-objection for setting up ports not harming the DRDO activities remained unheard. Even they did not listen to our grievances. It was the only way out for the State not to renew the mandatory permission to the DRDO,” said a senior State official.
With the State Government hardening its stand, Dr Saraswat rushed to the State capital and met the Chief Minister. However, Patnaik, sources said, sounded a “big no” to the DRDO chief.
Besides working together on the port locations that suits both parties, Odisha should push the defense department/DRDO for other contributions such as a medical college and an institute like IIST (Indian Institute of Space Technology) Trivendrum.
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July 23rd, 2011 at 11:27 pm
Like other company DRDO is using odissa. They have all R&D & manufacturing facility in some other partof India, But they want to use orissa for testing. It is not adding any value to odissa’s progress. State govt should demand a R&D facility in Orissa. Every one including centeral govt dont want any key institute in orissa.I would like to request Chief Minister of orissa to do some thing in this regard.
July 24th, 2011 at 6:24 am
If the report describes acurately what the Chief Minister has done. Congratulations to him! What do cities such as Balasore / Bhadrak gain in return for having DRDO facilities. Nothing! Now I only wish Mr. Naveen Patnaik does not renege on his stance. It’s time DRDO does something for these cities.
July 24th, 2011 at 11:15 am
I am sorry, but I think we should not hold up anything required by the DRDO. Defense of the nation should be a priority. The Balasore area is ideal for testing of missiles and DRDO should be allowed to setup whatever facilties they need.
July 24th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
@S Pani : I think the Odisha government agrees to that. All it wants is for DRDO to be responsive and not ignore its requests. On the port location disputes, IIT Madars has been helping in identifying and suggesting changes to the locations so that it won’t affect the DRDO activities. But apparently DRDO has not been responding to that.
What should one do when one is bullied by “national interest”. The same kind of “national interest bullying” was used for the earlier existing “freight equalization” policy which stunted Odisha’s development for decades.
July 25th, 2011 at 5:29 am
@S Pani: I do not think the development of Balasore or DRDO should take place at the cost of one or the other. Perhaps ports can be set up at a safe distance from DRDO facilities. If they can’t (I really don’t see why except for the stubborn attitude of the Army) then the Army needs to provide facilities/institutions to offset the lack of commercial development in the city.
As for ‘national interest’, this has been the bane of Odisha. The state is seen as one big mine that needs to be exploited but nothing given to it in return.
July 25th, 2011 at 9:10 am
Unfortunately, there are always compromises to be made with any kind of development. I think arm wrestling between centre and state govts should not take place at a cost to “national defense”. I completely agree that Orissa has been short changed for a long time now, part of whose blame is on our leaders too. But national defense should remain above board of all politics.
July 26th, 2011 at 1:45 am
I think, in addition to all these demands we should negotiate for a complete naval base which is very much required as a precaution. And another coast guard station at somewhere in Balasore or Bhadrak district in addition to development of Paradeep station.
Upgrade the airbase at Charbatia, Choudwar to a full fledged airbase and if possible start the commercial service there in lines with the old Bangalore airport which belongs to HAL.
Third, upgrade army recruitment centre at Cuttack to a full fledged one so as to induct more people from Odisha in the Army.
July 27th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
Wheeler Island and the other islets around are picturesque and was suitable for tourism. Don’t know how and when DRDO entered there. Is it true that the DRDO is objecting any tourism activity around the couple of islets even in Hookitola?
July 27th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Also Kanika sand is very close and DRDO is not worried of it being used by KOPT
July 27th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
Please lets not use the military for development of regions. Military should make its own decisions based on its requirements and not based on political compulsions.
Vizag is already the Eastern Command HQ of the Navy, and it has minor bases out of Kolkata and Chennai. I dont see a major need for a Navy base in Orissa.
The CG is already decided on Gopalpur as an additional station along with an air enclave at Bhubaneswar. May be at best one more CG station may be operated, if required. But the threat on the east coast and the overall area under the CG on the east coast is not that high.
As for the Air Force, Orissa is miles away from any probable war zone, so operating an air base out of here is not of much point. As of now the Air Force needs to concentrate on other things than open air bases to satisfy regional requirements.