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Tuesday 4 August 2009

India Ready for Chemical Warfare Attacks; Defence Minister says

The National Disaster Management Authority has just released a report called the Management of Chemical Terrorism Disaster, the Times of India reports. The Defense Minister, A.K. Antony, attended the launch.

The comprehensive guidelines deal with several issues like counter-terrorism strategies, surveillance and environmental monitoring, prevention of illegal trafficking of hazardous waste, and human resource development, which includes education and training, knowledge management and community awareness. "The defence ministry shall also prepare itself for the management of (any) chemical terrorism disaster," Antony added.

That last sentence, using the words 'shall also prepare' is troubling, depending on your point of view of course.

The Mumbai attacks occurred less than a year ago and while an enquiry has found that certain modifications to the security services are required, many of these have yet to be implemented.

India is a bureacracy-ridden country, there are issues of communication between the centre, Delhi, and the states, and no-one would dispute the facts that have emerged about antique armoury and a lack of adequate resources for security personnel.

So is India really prepared, now, for a chemical attack?

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