Security risk at sensitive DRDO, Navy test sites

Published February 28, 2014 | By admin

SOURCE: TNN

Several disasters related to the Indian Navy have taken place over the past few months – with the latest being the fire that was detected on Wednesday on board the submarine INS Sindhuratna off the Mumbai coast – raising questions about the security of our defence assets. However, the lessons do not seem to have been learnt with security not being beefed up at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sites at Rushikonda and other defence establishments in the area.

The APTDC is set to issue tender notifications for the development of Rushikonda and Bheemili beaches as part of the Beach Corridor Project. However, the authorities have overlooked that Rushikonda Beach, which draws huge crowds, also houses DRDO’s missile testing centre and naval practices take place on one of its sides.

APTDC general manager, Vizag Bheema Sankara Rao, said, “Tender notification for development of Bheemili and Rushikonda is being given. It would be shortly developed but we haven’t spoken to theDRDO or Navy people about barricading their test sites. It’s at one side of the beach and does not disturb tourist inflow.”

Melville Smythe, a surfer and yachting instructor, who is also working with Sports Authority of AP said, pointed out that there is a security threat.

“The testing centre should not be here at all in this crowded beach but should be shifted towards the beaches in the vicinity of INS Kalinga Naval station. There’s absolutely no security and people can walk towards the sensitive defence equipment and computers kept at the site. There’s no guarantee that a tourist approaching towards it is not a terrorist”.

The area is not even barricaded and most of the times a lone security guard is posted though there is sensitive defence equipment such as satellite radar there.

Moreover, Naval personnel also frequent the area and beach for practice, for training and certain tests involving ships and boats and sometimes are disturbed by curious visitors and tourists, divulge sources.

This TOI correspondent, who visited the area posing as a tourist, managed to take photographs and was not stopped either by the security personnel or the DRDO staff there.

The beach attracts 1,000-5,000 visitors during peak season and is usually crowded in the mornings and evenings. What is worrisome is that picnickers, tourists and other revellers can walk up to the DRDO testing centre or even get in through a side, where DRDO officials, especially from Odisha, are found working. A DRDO officer, who came from Chandipur-on-sea in Odisha to work on missile tests conducted this week, said, “Some research equipment and computers are kept here but only for temporary period. The missiles are test-fired from Chandipur and here we check their range and target.”

Principal scientist of National Institute of Oceanography V S N Murty said that missile tests that are carried out are targeted deep in the sea and hence won’t affect the beach visitors. “However, considering it’s a sensitive area, hopefully the Navy and DRDO are taking all necessary precautions. Especially when tests are going on, they should bar the public from approaching the site,” he said.