SC halts INS Viraat's dismantling, veterans hail decision

Hours after Supreme Court ordered status quo on dismantling India's decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Viraat, Indian Navy veterans welcomed the move and vouched for converting it into a maritime heritage museum so that people can remember it. 

However, 30 per cent of the decommissioned INS Virat, which was said to be the longest-serving warship, has been dismantled. The process was started in December last year. Its ramp has been removed completely. 
 

It was in service for 29 years before being retired in March 2017. Earlier, another aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was broken in 2014 in Mumbai after being decommissioned from Indian Navy in 1997.
 

The Supreme Court stay comes after Envitech Marine Consultants Private Limited filed a plea seeking to convert the warship into a maritime museum and multi-functional adventure centre. A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde heard the plea and ordered to stay on further dismantling of the warship.
 

Shree Ram Group purchased the ship for Rs 38.54 crore in an auction conducted by the Metal Scrap Trade Corporation Limited last year. On Wednesday, the petitioner firm agreed to buy the decommissioned ship from Shree Ram Ship Breakers at Rs 100 crore.
 

Let's see how the naval veterans have reacted to the apex court's order: 

Rear Admiral Sudarshan Shrikhande (Retd)
 

Rear Admiral Sudarshan Shrikhande (Retd), who had commanded three ships and headed naval intelligence said, “The details of the stay order aren't known. However, the Indian Navy and some veterans have put in considerable effort over the years to retain her as a museum. To my knowledge, the promises of support for a few proposals never developed into anything concrete.”
 

"I am not so sure that the current proposal, especially when the dismantling process has been underway for some weeks, can succeed. All this was tried for years and came to nought," RAdm Shrikhande said.
 

"My view is to remember her for her service, her utility and majesty. All who have seen her at sea will find more enduring, although intangible ways of remembering her. We can't keep postponing what could have happened easily years earlier," he added.

Commodore G Prakash (Retd)

"Aircraft carriers are rare symbols of national power and there is a lot of national prestige attached to them. The Indian Navy has operated aircraft carriers for sixty years and INS Vikrant and INS Virat are a large part of India's successful legacy. Retaining such great symbols of naval power as museums contribute majorly in creating and nurturing maritime consciousness and national pride among the citizens of India," Commodore Prakash told Asianet Newsable. 
 

He was an anti-submarine warfare specialist aviator and had commanded three naval warships, INS Ajay, Taragiri and Tir. 
 

"We had squandered the opportunity to retain old Vikrant as a museum and if we have one more chance to now convert INS Virat into a museum, it is a very welcome development," Commodore Prakash added.

Capt (Retd) DK Sharma
 

Former Indian Navy spokesperson Capt DK Sharma said, "Too late in the day but still, all is not lost."
 

"The ship has been broken badly. The ramp is removed. It's impossible to get back the shape of Viraat. A lot of money would need to be spent," he added.