Question : INTERNATIONAL MILITARY EXERCISE BASE AT KALAIKUNDA

(a) whether the Government proposes to make Kalaikunda in West Bengal as the international military exercises base as reported in the Rashtriya Sahara dated November 19, 2005;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to provide the above base to the Singapore Government for carrying out military exercises on payment basis;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether any agreement has been signed between the Indian Air Force and the Singapore Air Force for carrying out joint exercises; and

(f) if so, the details in this regard?

MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE)

(a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 328 FOR ANSWER ON 15.12.2005

The Air Force Station Kalaikunda has been prepared as the air base for facilitating joint air exercises, entailing a total expenditure of Rs. 12.16 crores.

A joint exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has been planned during January 2006. According to agreement reached during the previous air exercises between the IAF and the RSAF, the RSAF will be paying for the boarding, lodging, consumables like petroleum products and other miscellaneous expenditure.

A Defence Cooperation Agreement has also been signed between India and Singapore on the 13th October 2003 for conduct of joint exercises. However, a Base Support Agreement for the forthcoming joint exercise would be signed before commencement of the exercise.