The title above is a link to an article written by Col Ajai Shukla, a fellow veteran, and published in the BS. Before you read the Article, I need to spell out a few more things laid out in Defense Service Regulations.
If my memory does not fail me, (30 yrs since I last referred to it), two paragraphs of it deal with execution of works for civilians, only when it can be done as a part of scheduled training. The cost of the work is assessed and is sanctioned by the formation commander. The civil party pays up, upfront, a part of which is deposited by the unit in the treasury and the rest goes to the regimental fund of the unit executing the work.
All routine training is carried out by engineer units in location with the resources authorised to it. Bridging training, however, is not considered routine. Unit level bridging training is carried out at a special location with equipment specially authorised for such training. The units do not carry out such unit level training with their own authorised equipment for very good reasons, mentioned in the Article by Ajai.
This route was, however not taken, as I can see it for the reason to save a large amount of money for the AoL, kind courtesy, not one but three govts, UP, Delhi and Central. Poor NGT activists! They were up against not just AoL but the combined might of the two state govts and the almighty GoI!!!
Whether it was or was not a public function is an academic discussion, given the approval of three govts to it. The moment the Delhi govt gave its sanction to a function where lakhs of people from all over the world were slated to come, the responsibility of law and order and infra became the responsibility of the state govt. In this particular case, since Delhi police is under the HM, law and order was the GOIs responsibility, exercised through the Lt Governor.
As one can see, nothing would have been possible without the sanction of the Delhi govt and its requisition of three bridges. Why did the govt of Delhi, under Mr Kejriwal, bitterly opposed to the GoI, not only give approval to the function, but also requisition three floating bridges over the Yamuna?
If any one is to be blamed for this deployment of Army Engineers against their written objections, it is not the GoI but the Govt of Delhi, under Mr Kejriwal.
Ajai's article does not bring out the exact source of the bridging equipment used. Was it WE, 1st line or 2nd line ?
It would be reprehensible if the equipment was WE or 1st line WR. The decision to deploy it would then be a callous one, at the cost of the Defense preparedness of our Nation.
It would also be interesting to know how much of the damage to the flood plains of Yamuna and the environment have since been undone, as was being touted by the AoL. It is a given that the National Media is hardly interested, but is the Nation interested ?
This route was, however not taken, as I can see it for the reason to save a large amount of money for the AoL, kind courtesy, not one but three govts, UP, Delhi and Central. Poor NGT activists! They were up against not just AoL but the combined might of the two state govts and the almighty GoI!!!
Whether it was or was not a public function is an academic discussion, given the approval of three govts to it. The moment the Delhi govt gave its sanction to a function where lakhs of people from all over the world were slated to come, the responsibility of law and order and infra became the responsibility of the state govt. In this particular case, since Delhi police is under the HM, law and order was the GOIs responsibility, exercised through the Lt Governor.
As one can see, nothing would have been possible without the sanction of the Delhi govt and its requisition of three bridges. Why did the govt of Delhi, under Mr Kejriwal, bitterly opposed to the GoI, not only give approval to the function, but also requisition three floating bridges over the Yamuna?
If any one is to be blamed for this deployment of Army Engineers against their written objections, it is not the GoI but the Govt of Delhi, under Mr Kejriwal.
Ajai's article does not bring out the exact source of the bridging equipment used. Was it WE, 1st line or 2nd line ?
It would be reprehensible if the equipment was WE or 1st line WR. The decision to deploy it would then be a callous one, at the cost of the Defense preparedness of our Nation.
It would also be interesting to know how much of the damage to the flood plains of Yamuna and the environment have since been undone, as was being touted by the AoL. It is a given that the National Media is hardly interested, but is the Nation interested ?
Sir, a minor correction: I am not an engineer veteran, but one from the armoured corps... Thanks and regards. Ajai
ReplyDeleteI am ashamed of my ignorance. My apologies Ajai.
DeleteI have corrected my mistake.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteManohar Awati
15:10 (7 hours ago)
No one seems to be interested except the author of the mail which is par for the course in important, national issues. In all other trivialities everyone is interested, especially our raucous TV commentators.