Govt sanctions Rs 4,764 cr more for submarine project

With the delivery of the Scorpene submarines getting delayed, the government has sanctioned an additional amount of Rs 4,764 crore for the project, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

"The last (of the six) submarine will be delivered in the second half of 2018. Government has recently sanctioned an additional amount of Rs 4,764 crore for the project," Defence Minister A K Antony said in reply to a written query.

India had signed a Rs 18,798 crore deal with France in 2004 for six diesel electric submarines to be constructed at an Indian shipyard and the first submarine is expected to be completed by the Mazagon Dockyards Limited in Mumbai by 2012.

The minister said the delay in delivery of the submarines was due to initial teething problems, absorption of technology and augmentation of the MDL infrastructure and procurement of MDL-procured materials.

Antony said the defence shipyard has put in place various plans to obviate any further delay.

On another query on the artillery ammunition, the Defence minister said the Krasnopol ammunition was procured from Russia in two batches in 1999 and 2002.

"The 1999 ammunition is serviceable and fit for firing during training and operations after repairs by the Original Equipment Manufacturer. The 2002 ammunition is under quality claim repairs by the OEM," he said.