HSL chief lashes out at private lobby for ‘smear campaign’

Hindustan Shipyard Limited Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral N.K. Mishra on Sunday lashed out at ‘smear’ campaign by private shipbuilding lobby against public sector shipyards.

Shipyards under control of Ministry of Defence had the best capability to take up construction of warships, submarines and other strategic vessels of the country, he told mediapersons.

“The private lobby is trying to tarnish our image. No doubt, financially we are weak. But after forming a consortium with public sector companies BHEL and MIDHANI and with our rich experience and strategic location and infrastructure, we are most suitable to get any major order,” he said.

Rear Admiral Mishra recalled their advantage in using retired sailors and submariners from the Navy who have settled down in the city.

“We proved our expertise in submarine repairs, a complicated procedure in the past. As we have put up a strong bid for construction of six submarines under ‘Make in India’ campaign they want to defame us,” he stated.

To a question, he said the high-power committee, which visited HSL last month to find out its infrastructure and capability to construct six submarines worth Rs.60,000 crore under P-75 (I) project, was expected to submit its report to the MoD next month.

World-over, public sector shipyards had proved to be the best as most of the private shipyards always crave for profit by compromising on quality.

Rear Admiral Mishra said PSU shipyards should be given high-value orders on nomination to prevent ‘unfair’ practices in bidding process. At the same time, he clarified even in bidding process, going by know-how, experience and strategic consortium formed with BHEL and MIDHANI to synergise their energies they should be given the P-75 (I) contract.

Referring to the complicated process involved in submarine retrofitting, he said they had proved their ability by undertaking retrofitting of INS Vagli and INS Sindhukirti, Russian-made submarines.

HSL Directors Commodore Ashok Bhal (strategic project) and Commodore A.K. Mitra (shipbuilding) were present.