Hyderabad: The Indian seashore is of economical and international advantage to the nation. However, the shrinking budget provisions for the Indian Navy is a cause to worry. In 2012-13, an 18 percent budget was allocated to the Navy while it dropped to 13 percent in the current financial year.
This move has been criticized by the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh. Provisions for the defence sector have only nominally increased in the latest Union Budget. This is a blow to the Navy, which is already suffering from several fund cuts.
The presence of the sea on three sides of India gives it the opportunity to play an important role in international politics. Crude oil and food grains to various nations are supplied through the sea routes. Any disturbance in the waters negatively impacts the economies worldwide. Experts, therefore, suggest that the government strengthen the country’s naval fleet.
Along with the sea, India has islands like Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep. Continuous surveillance is required to prevent the foreign fleet from entering the territorial waters. Just a few months ago, a Chinese vessel entered the Andaman without any clearance. It retreated only after the Indian Navy’s stern retaliation. There are suspicions that at least seven to eight Chinese submarines are routinely surveying India’s shores.
The Andaman Sea connects the eastern part of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean via the Strait of Malacca. The Andaman Islands are helping India have an upper hand in defense surveillance. China gets its oil imported through the Strait of Malacca from Central Asia. China has been arguing that the South China Sea belongs to itself while the Indian Ocean belongs to everyone.
China, which is building naval bases around India with the String of Pearls project, has made Myanmar its close ally too. The Chinese government has built a pipeline to supply oil and natural gas from Myanmar’s Kyaukpyu coast to Kunming province in China.
China’s plan is to supply oil through this route in the case of any disturbance in the Strait of Malacca. However, the Indian military sources are highly suspicious about China trying to invade the Andaman Sea, which is located between India, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia and on which it has no rights.
India has close ties with Myanmar. Several militant camps of Northeast are taking shelter in Myanmar. Both nations have worked together to eliminate several terrorist groups under the name of Operation Sunshine. China’s entry into the waters of Myanmar is sending jitters to New Delhi. China, which had already established its naval base in Pakistan’s Gwadar and Sri Lanka’s Hambantota, is now seeking to establish its presence in the Indian Ocean. The US, Australia, Japan, you and India entered a quadrilateral alliance to block China’s invasions.
The US thinks that India can play a key role in deterring China. India must take advantage of this opportunity and for that, the Navy must be strengthened.
Over 60 percent of the world’s oil supply is done through the Strait of Hormuz. In the wake of US-Iran tensions, the Indian Navy has decided to increase the security of cargo in the Indian Ocean. Under Operation Sankalp, all ships supplying goods to India from the Gulf of Persia are being protected. Amidst so many challenges, the meager budgetary allocations are the biggest cause of worry.
At least three aircraft carriers are required for long-range protection but only one INS Vikramaditya is available at the moment. Another carrier Vikrant, which is built with domestic technology, is due to arrive in 2021.
Experts suggest the permanent placement of an aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean to tackle China’s overzealous invasions. Prime Minister Modi’s dream of transforming India into a 5 trillion-dollar economy is possible only when we become a military power.
India is strategically located in the maritime trade between East Asia, West Asia, and Africa. For this reason, the Navy must constantly reinvent itself. Shipbuilding is a long and complex process, which requires heavy funding.
Six submarines will be built as a part of Project-75, two of which have already been handed over to the Navy. Along with these, there is the nuclear-powered Arihant. Defence experts want large scale construction of warships as a part of Make in India initiative.
America’s strong and impermeable naval base is the reason for its monopoly. Sensing this, China has also undertaken extensive construction of warships. Pakistan is also modernizing its fleet.
The Indian Navy needs at least 200 warships. Due to lack of funds, institutional negligence, and slow-moving projects, the current naval fleet is only 130. 50 new warships are being constructed. However, there is still a shortage of 20 ships. As a part of Make in India and by providing incentives, the Center needs to encourage more private companies to participate in the shipbuilding.
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