UAV for anti-naxal operations in Chhattisgarh to fly out of Bhilai soon
Anuja Jaiswal, TNN
RAIPUR: Decks seem to have been finally cleared to set up the base for the Indian Air Force’s unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) use in anti-Naxal surveillance programme at the Steel Authority of India’s airstrip at Bhilai.
Though the move to shift the base of the UAVs from Hyderabad to Bhilai had been going on for quite some time, the recent massacre of Congress leaders on May 25 in Bastar hastened the process, with the centre acting as a mediator between SAILand IAF.
If insider’s are to be believed an understanding has reportedly been reached between the SAIL and the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), which will operate the UAV. According to sources, the process for setting up the base is in final stages and it’s only a matter of “short time” that UAV would start doing daily sorties for monitoring movement of Naxalites.
Vijay Mairal, DGM Public Relations of Bhilai Steel Plant, confirmed that a high level team of the NTRO visited the plant yesterday. He however refused to give any further details on the plea that discussions were still going on. He also refused to comment on whether a formal MOU had been signed between SAIL and NTRO for using SAIL’s Nandni airstrip.
As of now, UAV had been operating without much success, primarily due to the long flight distance, from Hyderabad. The 12 Israeli-made Searcher tactical UAV imported last year for tactical intelligence gathering over the Naxal areas of Chhattisgarh and Orissa were to be actually stationed at airstrip at Jagdalpur.
However, reports suggest that Air Force authorities refused deployment of their men in Jagdalpur due to “poor living conditions” and demanded shifting of the base of SAIL’s plant in Bhilai.
With the shifting of the base to Bhilai, the UAV, will be able to spend more time in the air gathering tactical intelligence as their flying distance to the sensitive areas of Jagdalpur would reduce to almost half from the present 500 kms from Hyderabad, sources said.
While none of the officials were willing to come on record as to when the UAV would finally start flying out of Bhilai, Additional Director General of Police (Naxal Operation) R K Vij, admitted that it would be of great help in tackling the Naxal menace.
Vij told TOI the shifting of the base would lead to better coordination as state’s officers would be able to visit Bhilai easily for the interpretation of the data collected by the UAV. He said earlier the officers were sent to Hyderabad and it was time consuming. “All coordination issues will be sorted out if they are in the vicinity”, he said.
