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Rs 27 billion for upgrading defence units

M K Laul in New Delhi

A whopping Rs 27 billion will be invested in the 39 ordnance factories to upgrade and modernise them.

This was stated at a conference of general managers of ordnance factories inaugurated by Defence Secretary T R Prasad in New Delhi today.

Of this, Rs 12.5 billion will be invested during the ongoing Ninth Plan itself and the remaining Rs 14.5 billion subsequently to revamp the virtually obsolete machinery in these factories.

These investments, coupled with structured human resources planning, were expected to enable the ordnance factories to multiply their present level of production and productivity.

Defence Minister George Fernandes was to inaugurate the conference but he could not make it because of his preoccupation with the National Development Council meeting.

He is expected to address the concluding session of the conference tomorrow.

UNI

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