George Fernandes as defence minister reduced the altitude requirement at which copters could fly from 18,000ft to 15,000ft
New Delhi: The technical requirements to facilitate Italian helicopter firm were tweaked during BJP-led NDA government in 2003. According to the Defence ministry sources, in 2003, the required altitudes at which helicopters could operate was reduced from 18,000 ft to 15,000 ft. And, the changes were authorised by the then defence minister George Fernandes. In fact, changes were made only on the recommendation of Prime Minister’s Office and at the behest of the then the National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra.
“Requirement changing is not an easy thing to do. There is a process and checks and balances. Only the defence minister has the final authority to change the requirements. The changes were made in 2003 on the recommendations of prime minister’s office. And the changes remained same till it went to tendering in 2006 during my tenure as IAF chief,” said former IAF chief SP Tyagi said, whose name has been dragged into controversy after his cousins were named by Italian investigators for accepting bribery in Rs3,760 Crore 12 VVIP helicopter deal.
“In 2000, it was decided to procure a helicopter, which can fly at the height of 18,000 feet, as the then defence minister used to make series of trips to Siachein.
“When in 2000 tender action was taken they got to know that nobody in the world builds a plane that operates at 18,000 feet only. In the entire world, a French plane was there which could operate at 18,000 ft. So, in 2003, it was decided to change the ASQR (Air Staff Qualitative Requirement) from 18,000 ft to 15,000 feet. And I believe it was done on professional basis to avoid single vendor situation,” Tyagi said.
On Tuesday, Giuseppe Orsi, the CEO of Finmeccanica, has been arrested by the Italian authorities in Milan for corruption and embezzlement in connection with Rs3,760 crore helicopter deal with the Indian government.
Italian investigators were probing allegations that AgustaWestland a subsidiary of M/S Finmeccanica paid a commission to Switzerland-based consultant Guido Ralph Haschke to facilitate the deal in India. And Lorenzo Borgogni, a former top employee of Finmeccanica blew the whistle on Agusta’s deal with the Indian govenrment.
According to Italian investigators, three cousins of former IAF chief SP Tyagi have played a key role in twisting the rules in VIP chopper tender, won by Anglo-Italian AgustaWestland.
According to reports, the Italian enquiry states that Juli, Docsa and Sandeep Tyagi – the three cousins of former IAF chief had mounted pressure on Indian officials to change the tender.
“Yes, my cousins knew the Italians and had some business connections with them also,..there were dealings for 15-20 years largely in the power sector.. but had nothing to do with defence deals, said Tyagi defending himself.
COURTESY:
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Pradip R Sagar l @pradiprsagar
Published Date: Feb 14, 2013
http://epaper.dnaindia.com/story.aspx?id=39010&boxid=16242&ed_date=2013-02-14&ed_code=820009&ed_page=9
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