Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said that India should not depend on foreign countries for supply of arms and ammunition and instead focus on indigenous efforts to produce the necessary ammunition supply to face any eventuality.
“We spend around Rs2.5 lakh to 3 lakh crore every year on Defence, to keep the forces ready for any eventuality, even while hoping that such as eventuality does not come. India should not depend upon foreign countries for arms and ammunition and instead focus on indigenous efforts to build our own resource base,”Parikar said.
Addressing a gathering while inaugurating the ‘Engineers Conclave 2015” jointly organised by the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai, Parikar said, “When we talk about security, whether it’s energy, food or even the security of borders, I think self dependence is very important”.
Parrikar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Swachchh Bharat and Clean Ganga Mission” that were taken up last year, should have been pursued long back. “India is developing at a speed not seen in Western countries and that when we spend energy, saving it at the same time should be made a hallmark,” he said.
Eminent technocrats, engineers, policy makers, Government officials, civil society organisations and industry are attending the EC 2015 which focuses on two themes: Green Energy Options for Sustainable Development and Clean India Technologies.
This is the third in the series of annual conferences being organised by INAE. It provides a platform for engineers and engineer-scientists to address some of the major challenges in engineering and technology.
RK Singh, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, Shekhar Basu, Director, BARC, KC Purohit, Chairman, NPCIl, Dr BN Suresh and other dignitaries were present at the EC-2015 inauguration.