The National
Intelligence Grid (Natgrid) Project of India is one of the
most ambitious Projects of India. It has been passing through rough
weathers in the past. The good news is that the Cabinet Committee on
Security (CCS) has approved an Rs 1,100-crore allocation for the
NATGRID and has also granted an extension to it. The CCS has also
allowed NATGRID to acquire certain technological items mentioned in
the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
The bad news is that till now we have no
Accountability and Transparency about the NATGRID Project. Another
major lacuna of NATGRID Project is that it is beyond the reach of
Parliamentary
Oversight in India. Similar problems are also plaguing the
National
Counter Terrorism Centre of India.
Recently the Department of Telecommunication (DOT)
refused to allow the Home Ministry of India to intercept private
communications disregarding individual Privacy under the pretext of
National Security. Civil
Liberties Issues have been raised from time to time in
India vis-à-vis National Security Projects like NATGRID. They cannot
be ignored in India any more.
I hope these “Shortcomings” of the NATGRID
Project and NCTC would be removed very soon and NATGRID Project and
NCTC would be a valuable tool for strengthening National Security of
India. I also hope that Indian Government would maintain a “Balance”
between National Security and Privacy Protection requirements in
India while implementing Projects like NATGRID.
Now coming back to the recent new lease of life that
has been given to NATGRID by CCS. The funds granted to NATGRID would
be utilised for procuring equipment, technology and for building a
data centre. We need to have High Security Infrastructure and Secured
Communication Lines, opined NATGRID Chief Raghu Raman.
I also believe that this “Technological
Upgradation” is a must for NATGRID Project to successfully complete
the next stage. However, this is not an easy task especially keeping
in mind the Red Tape that is hindering the successful implementation
of NATGRID Project of India.