Article Posted on : - Aug 02, 2011

A file photo of Indian Defence Minister A K Antony

NEW DELHI (PTI): India has said that though four of its defence labs have been removed from the US' entity list no waiver has been given in acquiring technology without licence, Defence Minister A K Antony informed the Lok Sabha.

Pre-licence checks and post-shipment verifications were permitted as part of the Indo-US End User Monitoring Agreement signed in September 2004 but "no visit has taken place since 2009," he said in a written reply.

DRDO's Armament Research Development Establishment, Solid State Physics Laboratory, Research Centre Imarat and DRDL have been removed from the entity list preventing them from entering into collaborations with the US companies, he said.

"However, no waiver in acquiring technology without licence or exemption from existing obligations of adherence to general prohibitions concerning export or re-export or using the acquired technology in contravention to the US laws or its end-use as stated in the end use certificate by the indenting lab has been provided," Antony said.

The Minister said export of technology requires clearances from the US government which is done on case to case basis.

Meanwhile, answering another query, the Minister said the Government has converted a decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Vikrant into a museum.

"Technical bids were called for proper locating and improvements in the ship by the Maharashtra Government, which are being evaluated by the Apex Coordination Committee under the Western Naval Commander and the state Chief Secretary," he said.

On the project, the centre is spending Rs 17 crore whereas the state government will incur an expenditure of Rs 5 crore.