Balasore: The DRDO has made all necessary preparations for test-firing of Barak-8 missile from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Balasore. The testing of the missile is likely to be conducted September 21 and 22. The medium range missile is a joint venture of DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries.
Defence sources said if the testing of the missile is not conducted on these dates, it will be tested September 23 and 24.
Ahead of testing, people living in villages within a 2.5 km radius of the ITR will be shifted to temporary camps as a safety measure.
Each person will be provided `300 and an extra `75 will be given for domestic animals for shifting. The district administration has been intimated about the matter.
Collector Pramod Kumar Das held a meeting over the relocation of the villagers and domestic animals. The meeting was attended by sub-collector, district education officer, officials of fire department, tehsildars of Balasore, Chandipur and Remuna and district fisheries officer.
Fishermen of Bhadrak, Balasore and Kendrapara were warned not to venture into the sea during the test-firing of the missile. The district administration said 3,700 villagers of Khadupada, Kusumali Pahi, Jaydev Kasaba Pahi, Bhimpur and Sahda Nagar will be relocated at temporary camps.
The missile was earlier tested successfully in November, 2014 by Israel, and in December 2015 by the Indian Navy off the INS Kolkata frigate as part of its efforts to induct it as an operational missile. It will boost the Navy’s defence capabilities, officials said. PNN
