CBRNe seminar recommendations for India

DELHI, India - April 21, 2013 - PRLog -- CBRNe Protection India 2013 Conference & Exhibition was organised by IMR Media in partnership with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) and support of DRDO at the Kothari Auditorium, DRDO HQ, New Delhi on 16-17 April 2013.  

Among the major recommendations which emerged through the seminar were a need for closer and continued interaction between the armed forces and DRDO, between industry and DRDO and between the armed forces and industry; for the private sector to set up centres of excellence for R&D partly funded by the ministry of defence, for a level playing field for the private sector when it comes to fulfilling orders; for industry to be kept fully informed about the armed forces requirements.

Since the chemical and biological threat through conventional wars had reduced, there was a need to remain prepared for mitigation of disasters on a large scale in these areas through terrorist action. For such eventualities, the central government and the state governments, though the disaster management authority and the machinery which has been set up must cater to small incidents with wide area impact. Essentially, it was a big challenge since the terrorists had the initiative and could choose the time and location. This threat could be better countering with the best possible intelligence and early warning.

The inaugural address was delivered by Lt Gen NC Marwah, PVSM, AVSM, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, HQ IDS (Ministry of Defence).

The keynote was delivered by by HE the Governor of Chhattisgarh, Mr Shekhar Dutt, SM, who is also a former defence secretary.

A special talk on the work done by the Defence Resaerch & Development Organisation was given by Dr W Selwamurthy, former chief controller R&D Life Sciences & International Cooperation. The current incumbent, Dr Manas Mandal, Outstanding Scientist, gave the Valedictory Address.

Eminent and very senior speakers from the armed forces, distinguished scientists from the DRDO and subject matter experts from industry will address the delegates. Among those who addressed the delegates were

* Maj Gen (Retd) KB Kapoor, VSM, Director, Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS)

* Rajiv Bhatnagar, Chairman Defence Committee, PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

* Lt Gen KR Salgotra, VSM, Deputy Chief Integrated Defence Staff (Medical), HQ IDS

* Col Deepak Sharma, SM, Director Perspective Plg, NBC Cell (Threat Perception & Strat Ops), Army HQ.

* Prof. (Dr.) M.P. Kaushik Scientist `H' Director Defence Research & Development Establishment, Gwalior.

* Dr Sudershan Kumar, Director Center for Fire Explosive and Environment safety (CFEES), DRDO, Delhi

* Maj Gen (Dr) JK Bansal, VSM, Member National Disaster Management Authority

* Lt Gen (Retd) Aditya Singh, PVSM, AVSM**, former member NSAB

* Brig L Padmanaban, Commander, Faculty of NBC Protection, College of Military Engineering, Pune.

* John Saunders, Argon Electronics (UK) Ltd.

* Col (Dr) Ram Athavale (Retd), Aska Equipments Ltd

* Brig (Retd) Gurmeet Kanwal, Senior Fellow, Institute of Defence Analyses  

* Gp Capt SH Ramsali, Commander Indian Air Force Institute of NBC protection.

* Eric Damiens, Proengin

* Maj Gen (Retd) Dhruv C Katoch, SM, VSM, Director, CLAWS

* Dr. Rajendra Prashad Tripathi Director Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Sciences.

* Dr Rajesh Arora, Scientist E, HQ DRDO.

Leading companies, domestic and international, displayed their products at the exhibition. Among them were Proegnin, Argon Electronics, Bruker Daltonics, Meridian Medical, Aska Equipments, CBRNE Solution and so on.

The next edition of the event will be held in March 2014.