Naval academy work begins

By Our Staff Reporter

KANNUR, FEB. 25. The Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, has said that the proposed Naval Academy at Ezhimala will be a world class institution to train Naval officers and hoped that it will be a reality by 2004.

Formally inaugurating the construction work of the Naval Academy at the project site at Ezhimala today, the Defence Minister said the proposed academy would be a major defence establishment of its kind in the country that would train Navy cadets in the country as well as the cadets from around 30 nations. ``The academy would give our Naval officers unified faculty where every kind of training would be available,'' he said.

Stating that lack such training facilities put the country's Naval force at a disadvantage, Mr. Fernandes said the inordinate delay in starting the academy project had already led to many problems including cost runover. The project cost estimated at Rs. 166 crores in 1994 was now expected to cross Rs. 360 crores, he said. ``Money should not be a problem as far as the country's defence is concerned,'' he said reiterating that the work on the project would not be affected by shortage of funds. He said he had directed the Naval authorities to speed up the work with the aim of completing it in 2003.

He also said that Kerala is the right place to have such a world class Naval Academy as it is the region where Kunhali Marakkars fought the naval might of the Portuguese. Expressing concern over smuggling of weapons and narcotics in the west coast, the Minister hoped that the academy would play a great part in the defence of the country. He would be monitoring the progress of the project works to see that it would be completed as per the schedule, he said.

Stating that the Navy plays a great role in the country's defence, he said that the Naval force had been the subject of admiration by admirals of major Western countries after it built INS Dilli. The Navy had also hit global headlines when it along with the Cost Guard had nabbed a pirate ship recently, he said.

To a suggestion of the Minister for SC/ST Development, Mr. K. Radhakrishnan, who presided over the function, that the Defence Ministry should consider setting up an `Adventure Academy' at Ezhimala in association with the State Government, Mr. Fernandes said he would examine the feasibility of associating the proposed `Adventure Academy' with any of the defence projects.

Vice Admiral Harinder Singh, Flag Officer, Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Arun Prakash, Chief of Personnel, Naval Headquarters, Commodore Arun Nayyar, Director General Ezhimala Project, Brig. J.S. Randhawa, Chief Engineer, Navy, Kochi, the local MP, Mr. T. Govindan, and the District Collector, Mr. K.R. Jyothilal, were present at the function.

A press note circulated at the function said the project is being monitored by a three-tier management structure. The Project Management Board headed by the Defence Secretary is responsible for planning, monitoring and timely implementation of the project, the Project Steering Committee headed by a Joint- Secretary will expedite decision-making process and the Project Management Authority headed by the Director General, Naval Academy, has been entrusted the actual planning and execution of the project. For better co-ordination and control, the project has been divided into seven groups. The first phase of the construction activities will involve trunk services, roads, cadets accommodation and academy main building.

The Navy has also proposed a direct road linking Ezhimala to Kannur that will reduce the existing distance of 55 kms to 29 km, the press note said. The Navy is also considering an Environment Management Plan with the objective of protecting the bio- diversity of the site and providing environmental awareness and education to the cadets.

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