PUNE: Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar inaugurated an advanced CO2-based air conditioning plant at INS Shivaji in Pune's Lonavala, Maharashtra. The Navy chief expressed his pleasure at the inauguration, highlighting the plant's indigenous development, a significant stride in the government's commitment to combat global warming and harmful gas emissions.

Admiral Kumar provided updates on the progress of the third aircraft carrier, indicating that it has received clearance from the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) but awaits completion of the Defence Security Corps (DSC) procedures. Regarding INS Vikrant, he stated that after its commissioning, the carrier is set for full operation clearance by the year-end, following initial operations and guarantee docking.

Discussing the Navy's self-reliance plan, Admiral Kumar affirmed their commitment to achieving complete 'atmanirbharta' (self-reliance) by 2024, aligning with the national leadership's goal of becoming a developed country.

Addressing piracy challenges, the Navy chief emphasized ongoing anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean region since 2008. Despite a lull, recent activities prompted increased deployment to counter piracy. He credited the Government of India's Anti-Piracy Act for facilitating these operations.

On the situation in the Red Sea, Admiral Kumar assured that while currently monitoring, the Navy would intervene if Indian interests were threatened. He noted the absence of issues involving Indian-flagged vessels so far but stressed continuous vigilance.

In a separate event, the Navy Chief flagged off the Indian Navy Chadar Trek expedition at INS Shivaji. The expedition, set to scale a 11,000 ft summit in Ladakh, symbolizes the Navy's adventurous spirit and aims to foster a resilient workforce capable of confronting challenges and adverse weather conditions.

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