Article Posted on : - Aug 04, 2009

A File Photo of the India Gate in New Delhi

NEW DELHI (PTI): Government Monday said the Defence Ministry has proposed to construct a National War Memorial around the India Gate complex here but the Urban Development Ministry has expressed its reservations on the issue.

"A concept paper for construction of National War Memorial, which envisages its location at India Gate complex around 'chhatri' has been prepared by the Defence Ministry.

"The Ministry has requested the Urban development Ministry to assign requisite land," Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju said while replying to a query in the Lok Sabha.

"However, the Urban Development ministry has expressed reservations on the subject with respect to certain statutory clearances and availability of land," he added.

Replying to another query, Raju said the ordnance factory in Bihar for producing bi-modular charges for artillery guns is scheduled to be completed by August 2011.

However, in view of the CBI case against former Ordnance Factory Chairman Sudipta Ghosh, procurement from Israeli firm IMI have been put on hold till further orders, he said. IMI was to supply the Bi-modular Charges System for the factory.

In reply to a query, Defence Minister A K Antony said the Government had initiated a process of consultation with political parties in 2006 for creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

"The Defence Minister has written letters to various national level political parties. So far only six have responded and reminders have been issued to parties which have not replied to the letter," he said.