Time for integrated defence

APROPOS of the article “Integrated defence HQ”, Mr Bimal Bhatia has raised some pertinent issues. With the nuclear factor coming into play in this part of the world, the need for an integrated defence HQ has become all the more compelling. The Arun Singh Committee report had made a strong case for an integrated defence HQ, but it lies buried because it does not serve the bureaucracy’s interests.

The writer of the article under discussion, like many others, has become a victim of baseless rumours. There is nothing on record nor any witness to the imaginary order emanating from General Chaudhuri for the Army to pull back behind the Beas. I have checked it with even Maj-Gen G.S. Sandhu, then General Chaudhuri’s MA, who always accompanied him. He is sure that no such orders were ever given by General Chaudhuri.

It must be appreciated that the Indian plans had gone amiss and that on September 6 and 7, 1965, the situation on the Punjab front was very critical. 15 Infantry Division had suffered reverses, the 4 Infantry Division front had collapsed and the Pak-armoured divsion was breaking out from Khem Karan. Therefore, the situation, as seen on the maps of the Army HQ operations room, on the evening of September 6, 1965, was indeed grim. It is likely that some senior military officers at Army HQ might have done “loud thinking” in their examination of the emerging scenario.

It would be worthwhile to recall that it was 3 Cavalry, with officers like Brig (then Maj) N.S. Sandhu, which saved the day.

Lieut-Gen HARWANT SINGH (retd)
Chandigarh

Damaged rail tracks

Having gone through the various reports of train accidents, train delays, mass train diversions in the northern region, culminating with a detailed report and photograph in The Tribune of December 11, I wish to submit the following:

(a) It appears that far too many cracks have been detected in the recent past, resulting in sudden delays and cancellations of trains on the routes concerned. Apparently, regular and routine checks have not been made, and the damage allowed to accumulate, resulting in the fiasco, leading to grave inconvenience to the public.

(b) It is not known whether the material being used to fill the cracks will hold the same with such strength as to withstand the subsequent pressures of the train movement.

(c) Since the life of the tracks is 20 years, and the cracks have started app earing in great numbers in less than half of their life-span, would it not be correct to presume that the railway lines are not in accordance with the specifications? This would result in further deterioration in the lines which would require to be changed much before the completion of 20 years

(d) According to the reports, the track between Delhi and Ambala is of the “long-welded rail” (LWR) type, which does not have any fish-plates or gaps to cater to the high-speed locomotives. Then how do these tracks account for contraction and expansion?

(e) Trains being run at speeds lower than the specified limit is a clear indication that the repaired cracks cannot withstand the pressures and vibrations of higher speed.

(f) Since the whole charm of the prestigious trains like the Shatabdi was the speed and the short time taken to reach their destination, would it not be appropriate for the railway authorities to proportionately reduce the tariff to compensate for the delays?

It would be prudent if the railway authorities took serious cognizance of the situation and adequate steps at the national level to ensure proper and regular inspections, repairs and maintenance of the rail tracks in order to save valuable lives and avoid delays and inconvenience to the public.

Lieut-Col M.G.S. KHURANA (retd)
Chandigarh

Top heavy Haryana

The article by Mr D.R. Chaudhary, “Top heavy Haryana: financial problems ahead”, gives insights about misdirected, unplanned and irrational growth of top heavy infrastructure in terms of human resource and other resources. The fact that Haryana does not have resources has been raised by this very top heavy bureaucracy. After the formation of the state of Haryana, the era of green revolution came in and fast economic growth was seen and administrative infrastructure also proliferated under vested political interests. I fully endorse the view of Mr D. R. Chaudhary that top heavy Haryana is one of the areas in which valuable scarce resources of Haryana are being wasted. It needs a timely remedy otherwise the miseries of toiling masses of Haryana will increase.

But there is a danger in the format of the article that the reader may consider the top heavy bureaucracy to be the sole factor or major factor behind the grave economic crisis Haryana is facing. By adopting a policy of rational planned and properly directed deployment of human resource, one would expect partial improvement in the situation because the crises mentioned in the article is of a much higher scale and much more serious. The negative impacts of green revolution are quite obvious now which are compounded by rampant corruption, unscientific temperament of the most learned people, adhocism, globalisation and liberalisation. The public sector has been sabotaged in a planned way.

The article exposes many aspects of top heavy structure very nicely. A rational deployment policy is the demand of the day.

R. SINGH
Rohtak

Terrorist threat to HP

This refers to the news-item “Pakistan-trained militants enter Himachal” (Dec 8). It is a serious matter for the state government as well as the Centre that Pakistan-trained militants are trying to sneak into Himachal from Doda district adjoining Chamba after they failed in their operations in Kargil, Poonch, Rajouri and other sensitive areas of Jammu and Kashmir. It should be kept in mind that in August 35 innocent labourers were mercilessly killed by militants in the Kalaban and Satrundi areas of Chamba district.

However, the BJP-HVC combine government, headed by Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, is doing its best to maintain law and order. Even Home Minister L.K. Advani promised that the Centre would provide financial help, paramilitary forces and security devices for anti-terrorist operations in the state.

Surprisingly, instead of giving support to the ruling party at the Centre, the Congress is continuously blaming the Dhumal government for not maintaining law and order and demanding that the coalition government should concentrate its efforts on Chamba and Kangra districts where terrorists were reportedly spreading their activity.

SUNIL K. DOGRA
Chandigarh

Overdue payment to IAF

The Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes recently told the Rajya Sabha that two former Prime Ministers, Mr P.V. Narasimha Rao and Mr H.D. Deve Gowda, and the current Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, owed the Indian Air Force over Rs 5.52 crore, Rs 26.48 lakh and Rs 21,609, respectively, for using its aircraft for duties other than official.

It is a startling disclosure as the amounts are due from very senior leaders of big parties. I am reminded of an Urdu verse: “Chhira jo tazkira-e-maikashaan to saaqi ney/Liyey hain naam kuchh aisey ke aql hairan hai.”

The sum due from Mr Vajpayee is not much. However, it is not the amount but the default in payment that matters. The amount involved in the case of Mr Rao is quite huge and has not been paid during the past five years.

Apparently, the three leaders used the IAF’s aircraft in the election campaigns of their respective parties, and there is no justification for withholding the payments in question. The leaders of the parties concerned in the Rajya Sabha should have assured the Defence Minister to make the payment immediately after his statement.

The Congress repeatedly declared that it would not hesitate to discharge its constitutional obligations as and when the situation requires. It is high time the party first discharged its liability to make the payment of Rs 5.52 crore to the IAF, which is already overdue.

BHAGWAN SINGH
Qadian