Audit watchdog Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) slammed state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for not putting in place an effective land use policy in order to be able to manage vast land resources that it owns, to manufacture aircrafts, helicopters and other defence accessories.
“HAL has not formulated a land use policy for management of its vast land resource spread over different locations. Acquisition of land already encroached upon and failure to clear the encroachments resulted in the land being not available. The company also did not have the title for land valued ₹211.69 crore,” the report stated. It even highlighted to various discrepancies that were observed in the extent of holdings of HAL as per the Compendium of land holdings of HAL, Award Copies and Record of Rights of Tenancy and Crops Certificate (RTC).
The CAG said inconsistencies were also seen on some of lands owned by HAL in Bengaluru and Nashik. The regulator pointed towards some of the investment proposals made by HAL in several joint venture companies. It said the joint venture between UK-based BAE Systems and HAL – BAeHAL – that was formed as an export body, violated the country’s Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09 and 2009-14.
On Indian Air Force (IAF) operations, the CAG highlighted towards “inordinate delays” in commissioning of Low Level Transportable Radar.
“The critical requirement of Air Defence Surveillance envisaged (1998) to be met by IAF through 37 Low Level Transportable Radars (LLTR) remains unmet for past 17 years due to inordinate delay in supply of 19 LLTRs despite incurring expenditure of ₹454.48 crore,” it said.