New Delhi, October 31
The Navy has put in place a specialised organisation to ensure safety of top secret information and of warships at sea, new Naval chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said today after taking over the hot seat at the South Block here. “We have taken corrective steps to ensure that there are no leaks of classified information and documents,” the much-decorated Naval fighter pilot said soon after assuming office.

While replying to a barrage of questions on Naval war room leaks, which have led to arrest and dismissal from service of key naval personnel, he said “It is unfortunate that such incidents happened”. Admiral Mehta asserted that corrective steps had been taken to ensure that such incidents don’t recur. “A big organisation has been put in place to ensure safety of information and that of units at sea. We are sure we won’t have such problems now,” he said. The new Chief of Naval Staff while talking of his priorities said that he visualised a “much bigger role” for the force operating its flotilla in distant waters far away from Indian shores. “It will be our endeavour to operate in waters far away from home.”

Taking over the reigns from Admiral Arun Prakah, he said the Navy was in the process of acquiring warships which would give it a longer reach and capability of operating beyond Indian waters.

“The induction of the 45,000-tonne displacement carrier Admiral Gorshkov and huge troop-landing warship Trenton will soon bring about a different dimension to our fighting capabilities,” he said.

“With these long-range weapon systems, we will have capability to influence battle on land,” Admiral Mehta said.

Taking over as the 19th Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Mehta brings rich experience to the top job in the Navy. He has commanded Navy’s Eastern Naval Command, Western Naval fleet, as also important shore appointment of Director-General, Coast Guard, Chief of Personnel and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, at Naval headquarters here.

In his brief interaction with the media he said, that his entire thrust was on making clear that the Navy was getting ready to operate in distant oceans and for this, it was building its surveillance and networking capabilities. The Navy has already floated Request for Proposals for acquiring eight surveillance aircraft with two major US firms Lockheed Martin and Boeing and Russians vying for the deal.