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Drdo

Bio-toilet choked with complaints

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By Pradip R Sagar | Published: 28th October 2017 The Sunday Standard
NEW DELHI: Forget about missiles or battle tanks, the country’s premier defence research agency DRDO’s bio-toilets are getting blocked with major glitches. Indian Railways, the toilets’ main user, is getting hundreds of daily complaints from passengers from its 17 zones, and its top officials can’t find a solution.

Dr Y Ashok Babu, a senior microbiologist who was part of the E-loo project, has questioned the technology used and has written to the Defence Minister and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). He claims the imported bacteria worked perfectly well in the laboratory but not in Siachen, for which a solar panel heating system was added to accelerate the ‘digestion’ process. He says the bio-toilets, which are nothing but gobar gas plants, involve no technology and can be built by a village mason. He claims that officials conspired with some vendors to fool people; they just added bacteria from Antarctica, which is available in cow and buffalo dung.

A senior Railway official involved in the procurement of the bio-toilets from DRDO said, “Nowhere in the world are such toilets used in rail coaches except in India.” In response to an RTI, Railways authorities revealed no study was carried out before installing the toilets in coaches. “These toilets are not approved by UIC (international union of railways) or any other Railways Standard Organisation,” he said.
Claiming to be a ‘big failure’, Railways officials said 95 per cent of these toilets are faulty. The Railways planned to install 2.5 lakh toilets in all coaches by October 2, 2019.

The bio-toilets were invented by Gwalior-based Defence

Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) and Tezpur-based Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) to decompose biological waste generated by soldiers in high-altitude regions such as Siachen and Ladakh in 2012. After the Ministry for Rural Development—which spent Rs 1,000 crore for the project—the Railways has become its biggest user. The DRDO has made the transfer of technology agreement with 56 companies, which are producing bio-toilets at a cost of Rs 15,000 to Rs 75 lakh. DRDO officials refused to comment when contacted.

Loo-se ends

Indian Railways, the toilets’ main user, gets hundreds of daily complaints from passengers
Railways officials said
95 per cent of these toilets are faulty
Railways planned to install 2.5 lakh toilets in all coaches by October 2, 2019

The project cost Rs 1,000 cr
E-loo uses anaerobic microbial bacteria to decompose and convert biological human excreta into usable water and gasses

Drdo

Hotelier Narang sends notice to agencies in property case

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By ABHINANDAN MISHRA | New Delhi | 16 July, 2017 Sunday Guardian

    The notice sent by Sanjay Narang to Y. Ashok Babu

Notice to whistleblower raises questions about secrecy.

The whistleblower in the Sanjay Narang property case in the Landour cantonment area of Mussoorie has been served a notice by Narang, raising serious questions regarding the government’s onus to maintain confidentiality of such complainants, who have often been attacked.

Narang has served a notice to Y. Ashok Babu, estate officer of the Institute of Technology Management (ITM), which is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), asking him “to either substantiate with evidence the allegations made by you, or to unconditionally withdraw these allegations within seven days, failing which I reserve my options open to file a case against you personally for defamation under section 499/500 of the Indian Penal Code, as your letter to the CVC/CBI (and circulated to the media) was sent by you in your personal capacity”.

A copy of the notice has been forwarded to the DRDO, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and multiple departments under Ministry of Defence (MoD). The Sunday Guardian also has a copy of the same.

Ashok Babu had earlier filed a complaint with the CVC seeking a probe into the irregularities regarding Narang’s properties which are located in the sensitive area of Landour cantonment and adjacent to the ITM laboratory.

Ashok Babu had pointed out that several commercial establishments were running in Landour, allegedly without permission, and they posed a security threat to the defence establishments. He had stressed that this could be “bigger than the Adarsh housing scam”.

The Ministry of Defence was forced to take stock of the situation at the Landour cantonment. The CVC had asked for comments from all departments concerned. A fact-finding mission comprising senior officials of the department of defence estates had visited Landour later. Narang has stated in his notice: “I have been questioned by the CBI and the officials of the Cantonment Board Landour (CBL) based on the false complaints made by you against me and by your action of feeding completely false information to various media outlets. The purpose of this letter is to place on record the correct facts pertaining to each of your allegations made to the CBI, CVC and media.”

Reached for comments, Ashok Babu, while acknowledging that he had received the notice, said that the “matter was sub judice”.

Sources close to him said the whole development was a matter of great concern for whistleblowers. “How can the content of a complaint filed by a government servant with the CBI, Ministry of Defence and the CVC reach a private individual, an individual against whom the complaint is filed? A senior government servant is being threatened with a notice for whistleblowing against corruption,” an official source said.

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CBI raids premises of Army officer in Hyderabad over land scam row

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By Express News Service | Published: 16th May 2017 05:32 AM |
Last Updated: 16th May 2017 05:32 AM 

HYDERABAD: Days after registering a case against an Army officer and a private builder in connection with a Rs 500 crore land scam, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials from New Delhi on Monday raided the offices and residences of an army officer in Hyderabad and seized incriminatory material.

CBI registered cases against Lieutenant Colonel M G Thimmaya, former estate manager of DRDO, Bengaluru and N H Rustumji, builder and other unknown persons in connection with the transfer of a
12-acre land worth Rs 500 crore at Benniganahalli in KR Puram to a real estate developer.
The raids were conducted after court direction to probe a complaint by private land owners and various civil appeals.

During investigation, CBI officials found that Lieutenant Colonel MG Thimmaya, H Rustum and other officials entered into a criminal conspiracy with the accused in 2004-06, pursuant to which the public servants cheated the government through transfer of 12 acres 1 gunta of land in favour of a private person against the decision of the defence ministry.

CBI officials stated that the searches were conducted at seven different places including the residential and official premises of accused persons at Hyderabad and Bengaluru which led to recovery of some incriminating documents.

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High-end resorts, hotels thriving in Landour cantonment area

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By ABHINANDAN MISHRA | New Delhi | 6 May, 2017 – Sunday Guardian
Manohar Parrikar had ordered a probe, but with a change of guard in defence ministry, things have stalled.

The Institute of Technology Management, DRDO at Landour cantonment

Private resorts and hotels in Landour cantonment, Mussoorie, continue to function even though former defence minister Manohar Parrikar had ordered a probe, nearly nine months ago, to find out how they were allowed to come up in the high security sensitive zone.

Mussoorie based officials accused that the defence ministry was trying to “cover up” the matter to save the skin of “influential people” involved in the business.

The matter had first come to light in July last year when the estate officer of Institute of Technology Management (ITM), which is a Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) laboratory, wrote to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and then to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), seeking inquiry into how high-end resorts and hotels were functioning in the cantonment area when no such permission was given by the government departments concerned.

Following the uproar, Parrikar had ordered a probe. But the “probe” seems to have “died down” with a change of guard in the ministry.

“Nothing has happened in that matter. Only initially, once, a senior official had come in the last week of July to look into the matter. The resorts and hotels, without having valid permission to run, continue to function without any hindrance despite the fact that they are situated in a cantonment area. Many foreign nationals are running these resorts, so you can understand how much of a security threat is involved. It is very shameful that the MoD has chosen to ignore this issue and has taken it so casually,” a senior official associated with the DRDO said.

As per a 12 May 2016 letter, which has been accessed by this newspaper, the Landour Cantonment Board had not given any licenses to any persons or firms to run guest houses in the cantonment area.

According to officials, neither the CBI, nor the CVC nor the MoD had so far even interacted with the public servants who are aware of how the resorts and hotels were illegally constructed.

“I do not know what kind of probe they are doing. Even if they are not serious about the probe and just want to do a formality, they should have at least called those people who are aware of the matter and spoken to them before giving a clean chit to the owners of those hotels and resorts which are running illegally. These resorts could not have come-up without the complicity of hoteliers and MoD officials and hence no one wants to take the probe further,” another senior official of DRDO stated.

Drdo

DRDO goes young with Modi

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By Pradip R Sagar
Published: 02 Oct 2016 The Sunday Standard

Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: In order to weed out the dead woods, country’s premier defence research agency Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which is often faced criticism for its tardy performance, is looking for young scientist to head one of its laboratory. It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advise to DRDO to hire young scientists, not over the age of 35 years to head at least five laboratories of defence research agency.

Following PM’s advise, Uttarakhand based Defence Institute of Bio-energy Research (DIBER), which is engaged in research in the first of bio energy and non conventional energy for defence use, has invited applications from candidates before the age of 35 years to head the lab. Officials claim this is the first step in the chain of events to give important role to young scientists, as Modi government has already banned giving extensions to scientists who have completed their tenure. It is notable that till two years back, DRDO’s top 15 scientists were on extension of service.
drdo-logoPM Modi in his first interaction with DRDO scientists had sent a stern message to defence research agency for their ‘chalta hai’ attitude, as most of DRDO projects, ranging from Tejas light combat aircraft to long-range surface-to-air missile systems have been missing repeated deadlines with huge cost overruns.
But sources in the agency said, appointing youch scientists to head laboratories may not go down well with senior scientists working with defence research.

But, officials said that hiring of Director of lab below the age of 35 years will send message to everyone working in DRDO to deliver. Modi has last year short listed Satish Reddy, the youngest ever scientific advisor to the defence minsitry.

“Certainly it’s an effort to get rid of non-performing scientists. Merely age seniority will not matter. If India wants to be a superpower, our defence research has to be cutting edge. India remains to be top buyer of military hardware globally with nearly 70 per cent defence requirements meet by imports,” said an officer. It is the successful government’s failure to build a strong domestic defence industrial base due to sluggish performance of 52 DRDO laboratories, five defence PSUs , four shipyards and 39 Ordnance factories.diber-director

PMO

Modi government plans to launch team to probe defence scams

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By Pradip R Sagar Published: 18th September 2016 – The New Indian Express

CBI director Anil Kumar Sinha
CBI director Anil Kumar Sinha

NEW DELHI: With an extremely poor track record of probing defence bribery scandals, the country may have a special team to investigate such cases. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is contemplating a proposal to constitute the team.

The proposal came up for discussion at a meeting in the Cabinet Secretariat recently where key officials suggested an independent team, which can be tasked to investigate only the high-profile scams that have hit the corridors of the defence ministry. Investigators can be drawn from the CBI to coordinate with the ED, to follow the money trail involved.

The government is planning to launch a special team only to investigate defence scandals. This comes in the backdrop of allegations of Brazilian aviation major Embraer hiring a UK-based agent and paying commissions to swing the $208 million deal for three Emb-145 aircraft inked with India during the UPA rule in 2008. The Defence Ministry has forwarded the matter to the CBI, which has filed a preliminary inquiry and initiated a probe.
From 1986 Bofors, HDW submarine, Tatra to AgustaWestland, Indian investigators have miserably failed on prosecution as majority of the scams hit dead-end and closure was filed by investigating agencies. Government believes that such scams not only bring bad image to the country, but also causes embarrassment globally. The only roadblock, however, will be sparing officials from the CBI, the federal agency which is already short-staffed. In a recent affidavit in the SC, the CBI informed that it has 50 per cent of its staff on deputation and has a vacancy of 754, against its sanctioned strength of 4,544. Of these, 283 vacancies are at the levels of inspector, 195 of constable and head constable, 65 at deputy and additional superintendent of police, 41 at SP and senior SP level and 12 are of Deputy Inspector General.

“Repeated failure of investigating agencies especially in probing defence scams is surely a cause of worry for the government, as it creates a lot of hype. Forming an independent team of selective officials to handle bribery allegations in defence deals will be an option, as most of these probes require overseas intervention,” said a high-ranked official. It ultimately turns out to be diplomatic loss of face for the government after naming foreign companies and middlemen during the course of investigation.

Like in the recent case of AgustaWestland choppers, despite so much of noise in Parliament, CBI has failed to arrest anyone.the-sunday-standard-18-september-16

Drdo

Parrikar protects whistleblower and takes action against his DRDO harassers

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By Pradip R Sagar | Express News Service Published: 30th May 2016
Manohar-Parrikar
NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has been in South Block for just 18 months, but the 61-year-old has taken several strong measures. In a recent order with a far-reaching impact, Parrikar has not only given protection to a whistleblower, but has also ordered action against officials harassing him.

Prakash Singh, a 53-year-old Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) official, was sacked on the grounds that he was a “perpetual troublemaker”. In reality, Singh had blown the lid off alleged financial irregularities and malpractices in recruitment procedures in the country’s premier defence research agency.

As his series of complaints led to unease, he was sent on compulsory retirement in 2012.
ParrikarDespite complaining to then defence minister A K Antony, nothing was done. Last year, Singh apprised Parrikar of the root cause of his harassment and held 22 DRDO officials responsible for his persecution. Parrikar then ordered quashing of charges against Singh and action against the officials.
“The case has been examined in the light of advice of CVC (Central Vigilance Commission) and after detailed deliberations, the competent authority has ordered quashing of the charges framed against Prakash Singh,” says a Ministry of Defence order. “Those who trumped up false charges and committed a number of procedural irregularities with the single-minded objective of harassing Prakash Singh need to be identified and taken to task for their malafide action.”

Singh’s complaints of corruption in the agency and 10 DRDO scientists recruiting their family members in the organisation by flouting all norms is being investigated by the CBI.

Prakash Singh’s complaints to CBI, CVC

Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC) failed to utilise the pressure recovery system (PRS), a hi-tech equipment imported from Russia for Rs 16.58 crore. Singh alleged that the equipment was burnt in a “mysterious” fire, but DRDO said that the project was successful.

Highlighted nepotism in DRDO recruitment by senior scientists who “recruited their family members by flouting rules”. During a CBI probe, two scientists were asked to leave on the same grounds

Drdo

Christopher proves that he cannot face any honest DRDO official

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Since 2011, Sh Prakash Singh, SAO-I continuously fighting against the corrupt official lobby of DRDO. It is true that in the passage of time our government organizations are turned into black hole for public funds and whenever any official in government of India tries to correct the system are always harassed miserably by top bosses.
DRDO is also like other government organization, having huge corruption records, fortunately DRDO take escape route in the name of secrecy. Now, in the era of digitization of records DRDO not able save the face of its corrupt officials.
Honorable RM Parrikar shahib very well aware of DRDO corruption, since lot of scientists/ officials approached him and explained and denude the true picture of DRDO.
Sh Prakash Singh complained to CVC and CBI prevailing corruption in DRDO in 2011, CVC registered the case but took long time to expedite the case and DRDO encash the extenuation of CVC and terminated him from service. Media took stand and played their duty and then Honorable RM Antony reinstated Sh Praksh Singh.
This reinstation gave a big boost to Sh Prakash Singh in his mission to fight against corrupt officials of DRDO, here Sh Praksh Singh under estimated the powers of corrupt gang of DRDO.
Within two month of span Sh Prakash Singh received two transfer order first LASTEC to SPIC and then SPIC to DL, Jodhpur. Although transfer is not any punishment but the vindictive interest behind the act is more important, his transfer is not in public or organization benefit, it is only for ego satisfactions of corrupt gang of DRDO.
The main aim to send him far from Delhi is to restrain him to meet Honorable RM who understand the motives of corrupt gang of DRDO and passed order to identify them and initiated the action against them.
Sh Prakash Singh transfer is the litmus test of Sh Parrikar Shaihib existence whether he is able to protect victimization of honest and whistle blower or helpless in front of DRDO corrupt gang.
Yesterday Christopher gave open challenge to Sh Parrikar Shaihib by trying throw out Sh Prakash Singh from his office with the help of DRDO bouncers i.e. DSC Jawans & Private EMU contractual security. Prakash Singh obtained pass no 14876 2:30 dated 3rd June 2016 at 2:30 PM vide gate pass no 14876 to meet DOP,CCHR (R&D) and Secretary, DRDO.
Secretary, DRDO Dr S Christopher showed his discourtesy, intractability, rudeness by not to entertained Sh Prakash Singh and not listen his grievances, proved that government of India wasting public funds by assigned the secretary, DRDO post.

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Save the Great Indian Country

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To 30th May 2016
Shri Manohar Parrikar,
Defence Minister,
Room No -104, South Block,
New Delhi-110011

Subject: Save the Great Indian Country

Sir,
After call from our Honorable Pradhan Mantri to save the country from corrupts, every citizen want to support the cause and want to contribute with inputs related to corrupt practices prevailing in his surroundings.

Website www.corruptionindrdo.com dedicatedly working to eradicate corruption and nepotism from our premier defence research organization (DRDO)

Website received inputs from various Labs/Establishments of DRDO and forwarding to you for necessary corrective measurement but unfortunately the bunch sitting in DRDO Hq playing old tactics that make a inquiry committee with yes men team, cooked slowly, a farzi inquiry report, and send MoD with lot of excuses if matter is related to corruption like the procurement was necessary in the strategic application so procedure laps overlooked.

If matter is related to service matter then it was presented like if we will not transfer this guy then country and organization will be in trouble. Actually, always you will found only cause, the ego of boss or fear of expose of corruption and nepotism. The fact is no one bothers for loss of public funds or harassment of family, in DRDO because money is flowing.

Sir, only one case, if you take seriously you will find chain of corrupt officials in DRDO. Like the case of DMSRDE corruption since last three years, MoD only served the show cause notice to 40 officials. Everyone knows the material facts, evidences are clear and sufficient but why they are not able to fix. Only reason is that they very well know that every lab/establishment working on same manner but they are fortunate and till date not exposed. Then how can they tie belt on their colleagues who are unfortunately exposed?

Sir please do something exemplary so DRDO corrupt officials stop following corrupt practices and honest will get their due credentials.

Regards

Prabhu Dandriyal,
21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun-248008
Phone 0135-2787750, Mobile 9411114879
Email prabhudoon@gmail.com website-www.corruptionindrdo.com
letter from hyderabad 1 letter from hyderabad2.2
letter from hyderabad2.4 letter from hyderabad envelop

Drdo

Corruption in Centre For Air Borne System (CABS), DRDO, Bangalore

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To                                                                                          23rd  June 2015

Hon’ble Shri Manohar Parrikar,

Defence Minister,

Room No -104, South Block,

New Delhi-110011

Subject: Corruption in Centre For Air Borne System (CABS), DRDO, Bangalore

Sir,

DRDO is infamous for awarding or routing tenders and contract to their kith & kin. Right from conservancy contracts to any specialized components/sub system/system.  Some of cases, if they are not able to develop any family based firm, than groom as his/her pet vender.

The procurement data of DRDO are self explanatory, these families/relatives or pet firms supplies any damn item irrespective of their field or expertise.

It is also observed the manufacturer always quote higher than pet firm, If any manufacturer has to do business with DRDO then should smell or identify these families/relatives or pet firms and routed his business through these firm only.

In case of Dr V K Sarswat, famous Ex DG, DRDO & SA to RM, presently member of Niti Ayog, GOI, Hon Madras High Court convicted, lot of cases pending in CVO, MoD, the pet firm was M/s SEC Industries Private Limited, Hyderabad, In case of Dr A Subhananda Rao, Ex Director, HEMRL, the pet firm was M/s Resin & Allied, Vijaywada, In case of Dr K Tamilmani, DG (Aero) the pet firm is M/s Aero Space Engineers, Salem, In case of  Dr A K Saxena,DMSRDE, Kanpur the pet firm is M/s Manglam Traders, Kanpur. It is just for example any lay man can spot the pet firm for each lab. DRL, Tezpur found a power supply firm of Hyderabad for their Poly Houses worth corers business.

Website received a letter today from Bangalore which exposes the above expertise in Centre For Air Borne System (CABS), DRDO, Bangalore. Our new Director General cum Secretary belongs to this lab only and might be aware of credentials of this firm of Mrs Suma Verughees’s husband Thomas Verughees the owner of  M/s DRD Software and Systems India Private Limited, Kerala, M/s WAVE MECHANICS PRIVATE LIMITED,Bangalore. M/s COM AVIA , these firms have big business association with DARE, ADA & CABS and some little with ADE

Like his predecessor Dr S Christopher will accommodate this firm in 2015 DRDO award as Technology absorption Award.

Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh presented the DRDO Awards for the year 2007 M/s SEC Industries Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad got Defence Technology Absorption Award

Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh conferred the DRDO Technology Awards-2003 and 2004 and M/s Resins & Allied Products, Vijayawada got Defence Technology Absorption Award.

Prime Minister, Sh Narendra Modi conferred the DRDO Technology Awards-2013    M/s Aero Space Engineers, Salem got Defence Technology Absorption Award.

Sir, countrymen closely watching you’re cleaning and correcting steps in DRDO, results are coming from various fields like restriction the uses of transportation/ curtailing the contract recruitments, controlling procurements, DG warning to Lab Directors, not come with unfeasible projects, identifications of corrupt officials and removing them from important post, approvals for appropriate actions on corrupt senior officials.

Sir, It is requested that give the clear cut directions to PCDA (R&D) to rotate JCDA officials because all procurement manipulation only possible with the help of these IDSA officials. In some places they are occupying these creamy posts more than 10 years and enjoying all legal and illegal facilities from DRDO.

Hope you will analyze the following letter and take appropriate measures to stop these families/relatives or pet firms business in DRDO, which directly affecting the progress of DRDO projects because with these families/relatives or pet firms labs accepting lower quality items.

Regards

Prabhu Dandriyal,
21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun-248008                                                                                    Phone 0135- 2787750, Mobile- 9411114879,                                                                                    email id prabhudoon@gmail.com   website www.corruptionindrdo.com      

M/s DRD Software and Systems India Private Limited, Registered in Kerala

M/s WAVE MECHANICS PRIVATE LIMITED Registered in Karnataka

Both firms owned by Thomas Varughese husband of Mrs Suma Varughese, Scietist ‘G’ CABS, DRDO, Seniority 277 in Scientist ‘G’,

Enclosed – copy of letter received from Centre For Air Borne System (CABS), DRDO, Bangalore