Against the backdrop of terrorist attacks on Pathankot airbase last year and Army camps in the recent months, the Defence Ministry on Thursday empowered
Vice-Chiefs of the three Services — Air, Army, Navy — to procure necessary equipment to enhance perimeter security of sensitive military installations without requiring the need to seek the Ministry’s approval. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley has fixed strict timelines to ensure the projects are finished in time-bound manner to protect critical Defence assets.
The decision, termed as “unprecedented”, comes following a security review after the Pathankot airbase attack and assault on some Army camps in Jammu & Kashmir highlighted lack of adequate perimeter security. These inadequacies led to terrorists sneaking into vital installations. The review said that lack of funds was a major cause for procuring hi-tech equipment.
Officials said the Ministry has decided to delegate substantial financial powers to the Armed Forces for undertaking works for perimeter security of sensitive military installations. This has been done primarily to expedite the decision-making process involved in the modernisation of the security apparatus of airbases and Defence installations. The Vice-Chiefs of the three Services have been empowered to place orders, procure equipment and carry out civil works without further seeking approvals of the Ministry. The financial delegation represents a significant jump in the powers currently exercised by the Services, they said.
The Army needs more than Rs 2,000 crore to ensure perimeter security of its installations especially in sensitive Jammu & Kashmir. The equipment includes electrified fences, night vision devices and radars.
Similarly, the IAF has categorised its airbases in two categories including ‘most sensitive’ and ‘sensitive.’ Given the large area over which the airbases are spread like Pathankot covering more than 25 sq km, the IAF requires more than Rs 8,000 crore.
The most sensitive airbases need to have CCTV coverage, electronically controlled access, perimeter security-cum-intrusion detection systems and better intelligence response mechanisms.
The measures to strengthen perimeter security were suggested by a committee headed by former Army Vice-Chief lieutenant-General Philip Campose. The committee was formed after the Pathankot airbase attack in January last year.
Campose found gaping loopholes in the security set-up of many installations and submitted a report to then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in May last year, suggesting a series of steps to improve security.
They included inducting modern technology such as Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTV), electrification of the perimeter fence, and night vision devices for soldiers guarding the camps.
The Defence Ministry had circulated broad guidelines based on the Campose report to the three Services and directed them to conduct an internal security audit to plug the gaps.
There are an estimated 500 big and small Army camps and installations in J&K and at least Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 2 crore is required to enhance the security as per the Campose report, officials said. Campose had also mooted extra financial allocation for improving the security of the Army camps.
In his six-chapter report, Campose had also proposed an external audit of security of camps and installations. So far, the Services have not agreed to the audit, maintaining it should be left to them. Ensuring security of installations is the responsibility of the respective Services, be it airfields, Navy establishments or Army camps.
A proposal to raise a special unit of 20,000 retired but physically fit soldiers was also mooted for guarding the Defence installations. It was also under active consideration of the Government. The proposed unit will be part of the Defence Service Corps (DSC), which secures the Defence establishments all over the country.