Indian navy will be best in world: Naval Chief

Visakhapatnam, May 24 (UNI) Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash today said plans were afoot to make the Indian Navy the best in the world in the next 15 years.

Interacting with mediapersons here after the Investiture Ceremony 2006 during his two-day visit to the Eastern Naval Command, he said 17.5 per cent of the allocation would come from the total defence budget, for which plans were being devised.

Admiral Prakash said during his stay, fruitful discussions were held on important issues relating to activities at ENC and preparing contingency plans in view of the volatile situation in Sri Lanka.

Measures were initiated to improve service conditions of sailors.

Answering a question on the status of the proposed new second naval base in Elamanchili Mandal in the district, he said, ''it is still in the processing and designing stage and acquired land of 5000 acre has been identified and acquisition is being done.

Negotiations are in progress to discuss rehabilitation and compensation packages.'' Already plans had been submitted to Andhra Pradesh state and Central goverenments.

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