No proposal to set up new ordnance factory: Government

NEW DELHI: There is no proposal to set up a new ordnance factory in the country but steps will be taken to increase capacity and functioning of the existing ones, government told Rajya Sabha today.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the modernisation process of the ordnance factories has been going on and the output of ordnance factories has been steady.

Replying to questions, he said at present there is no proposal to set up a new ordnance factory in the country but that doesn't mean that government doesn't consider increasing capacity and functioning of the existing ones.

Parrikar said nearly 85.4 percent of the products in the ordnance factories are indigenous and it is here where the idea 'Make in India' has been a success.

"85.4 percent of the products of ordnance factories are indigenously made and only 14.6 per cent has imported component in it," he said.

In the last five years, ordnance factories are hovering in 10,000-11,000 production range and we have planned to increase it to 13,500 during the current year, 15,300 for the year thereafter and 20,000 in 2017-18 and around 22,000 by 2018-19, Parrikar said.

During 2014-15, Rs 1302 crore have been spent on modernisation while for next year, the plan is for Rs 2,632 crores for modernization; and in 2016-17, it is Rs.3,400 crores, he said.

Parrikar said new manpower is needed for these factories as is the need to train existing workers with new skills.

Responding to a question, he said a process to initiate change has begun but that would take time. He added that ordnance factories have been asked to follow certain practices which are followed by corporates.

Parrikar added that new products are being planned. "We have been already changing our technologies and we are spending money in-house for technology development," he said and added that a gun ' Dhanush' has been designed and also being supplied to army.