Hon'ble Vice President visits NPOL, Kochi in Kerala
The Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, visited the Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi, on 2nd January 2022, as chief guest in a function that was arranged in connection with the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ initiatives at NPOL. The Honourable Governor of Kerala – Shri Arif Mohammad Khan, the Minister for Industries, Govt. of Kerala - Shri P. Rajeev, Member of Parliament, Shri. Hibi Eden, Director General (Naval Systems and Materials), DRDO – Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Director General (ATVP) – Vice Admiral KO Thakare (Retd), Director VSSC - Shri Somanath, Chief Staff Officer (Training), Southern Naval Command – Rear Admiral TVM Presenna, Director (R&D), BEL – Shri. M V Raja Shekhar, along with Director NPOL – Shri S. Vijayan Pillai and many other dignitaries from the government and Industry also attended the function.
Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu said that NPOL has established itself as a world leader in the niche area of underwater surveillance systems and technologies. He added that the contributions of a single lab of DRDO such as NPOL was immensely contributing towards national security and prosperity, and applauded the fact that all leading platforms of the Indian Navy were equipped with NPOL designed surveillance and defense equipment. He appreciated the practice of NPOL personnel working very closely with the Indian Navy – often choosing to sail with them, to understand the complexities of Naval personnel, while in the field. The Vice president noted that NPOL has been able to master a very complex and critical technology that gives a strategic edge to the Indian Navy in anti-submarine warfare. He was addressing after laying the foundation stone of Towed Array Integration Facility held in connection with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav at Naval Physical& Oceanographic Laboratory in Cochi. The Hon’ble Governor of Kerala, Shri. Arif Mohammad Khan said that attaining self-reliance in the defense sector is of utmost strategic importance for the country, especially in the present geo-political scenario, and congratulated DRDO for their caliber and commitment in helping the nation progress towards that noble goal. The Hon’ble Vice President formally inaugurated the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial erected at NPOL and unveiled the plaque in the ceremony. The memorial, made in tribute to our former President, comprises his statue, along with descriptions that chart his inspirational life. Models of missiles and rockets developed under the IGMDP program of DRDO which was initially guided and championed by Dr. Kalam also adorn the memorial area. An Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav installation – which portrays some of the exemplary Sonar achievements of NPOL was also inaugurated by the Hon’ble Vice President. The dignitaries also visited a special exhibition area that showcased various NPOL products.