NEW DELHI, JUNE 11: Chief of Army Staff General Shankar Roychowdury in a recent letter to the Prime Minister has lamented insufficient allocation of funds for defence in the Union Budget.

Roychowdury has pointed out that defence allocation has touched an all-time low of 2.24 per cent of the total allocation for the financial year 1997-98.In his letter, the Army chief has pointed out that the Chinese have increased their allocation by 12.7 per cent and Pakistan's operational preparedness has improved, thanks to the Hank Brown Amendment approved recently.

The letter explains that the Army faces a decline in its operational capabilities with serious deficiencies of certain munitions, transport, armoured fighting vehicles, engineer stores, clothing, accommodation etc.It notes that the Finance Minister's promises of more allocations to improve the Army's combat worthiness have remained just promises and nothing more.According to Roychowdhury, in the financial year 1997-'98 there is a shortfall of Rs 2,336 crore under the capital head -- a reduction of 52 per cent over the previous year. Modernisation of the Army has been affected by a reduction in revenue expenditure by Rs 150 crore. Also, there is a shortfall of Rs 3,556 crore in the first year of Ninth Plan budget estimates projections, he says.

The letter also dwells on the long delays in clearing new acquisitions for the Army, which the Army Chief says has resulted in a critical shortage of stores including food supplies, petrol, oil, lubricants, automobile spares and paints.

Roychowdhury blames lack of progress in revenue works, modernisation requirements and capital works on resource crunch.

This includes civil construction projects catering to both professional and personal purposes.

Owing to newly created forces like the Rashtriya Rifles and the Air Defence Artillery there is a requirement for more buildings.

Similarly, there is also a shortage of residential accommodation for Army personnel, he says.

Highlighting combat and support hardware problems, the letter identifies the lacunae arising due to inadequate allocation of funds. Resource crunch affects modernisation of hardware such as T-72 battle tanks, new SP guns, battle field surveillance and weapon locating radars, tank simulators and Tangushkas (Tank Mounted Surface-to-Air Missiles), he says.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.