Raising of Mountain Strike Corps depletes Army’s war reserves

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 24

The raising of the new mountain strike corps, ostensibly to counter the threat from China, has depleted the Army’s war wastage reserves (WWR). This has now raised questions over the Army’s capability to sustain operations during a war.

War wastages reserves were used to meet the requirement of weapons and equipment for the new raising in the absence of adequate budgetary support.

“The problems we are facing, essentially, is slightly futuristic as we see it because we have to now make up all the stores that we have pulled out from the WWR. That requires additional infusion of funds,” Vice Chief of the Army Staff has stated before Parliament’s Standing Committee of Defence.

“We are not getting additional budget. A certain amount of about Rs 5,000 crore has been set aside saying that this is meant for the Mountain Corps. But this is not over and above the budget. So, we need money over and above the budget if we are able to make up all the stores and weapons which we have pulled out from the War Wastage Reserves for the initial raisings.” he added.

The depletion of the Army’s war wastage reserves come in the backdrop of reports citing critical shortages not only in some major weapon systems but also basic equipment such as boots, bullet proof jackets and assault rifles. Then there is the issue of continuing manpower shortage both in the officer cadre as well as the ranks.

The new strike corps, christened 17 Corps, got off the ground earlier this year.