Tatra trucks earn clean chit

After the revelations of the former army chief cast a shadow of doubt on the efficiency of Tatra trucks, the government has sought to put the controversy to rest. The statement of the minister of state for defence M Pallam Raju in Parliament confirms that controversy erupted without much substance. While replying to a question in Parliament, Raju said that Tatra trucks being used by the Indian Army conform to the requisite qualitative requirements of the force.  

The public-sector company BEML has so far supplied around 6,500 Tatra trucks of various models, amounting to approximately Rs 3,660 crore to the ministry of defense and other defense public-sector undertakings. 

After the statement, serious doubts have been raised about the whole controversy, because the government has confirmed the technical competence of these carriers. 

But, because of the controversy around their technical superiority, many projects of armed forces are being delayed. For example, the induction missiles like BrahMos and Akash is suffering for the lack of their carrier vehicles in the force. The government has not procured any Tatra trucks in the last five months. The contract for heavy recovery vehicles critically needed by the army is stalled since March 2012.

If the defence ministry fails to take any decision on acquiring critical spare parts for approximately 6,500 Tatra trucks, then some of the strategic weapons systems of the country will become non operational.