(a) whether the Government have reviewed the working of ordnance depots;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the supply of ordnance materials during `Operation Vijay` in Kargil conflict was not made in time and in 48 percent cases this supply was delayed by one to three months;
(d) if so, the details of such ordnance depots; and
(e) the action being taken by the Government against officers found responsible for the delays?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI GEORGE FERNANDES)
(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. The review was carried out by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the report on `Review of Inventory Management in Ordnance Services` was published under reference of Union Government (Defence Services) No. 7A of 2000.
(c) No, Sir. All operational requirements were met on a war footing well within the stipulated time frames laid down in the technical instructions. The data, contained in the question, that in 48% cases, this supply was delayed by one to three months has been taken from the analysis of the issues made by one Central Ordnance Depot and relates to items which were meant for recouping the store consumed by the intermediary depot and not for operational requirements.
(d) & (e): In view of above, question does not arise.