EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 007788 SIPDIS SIPDIS USDOC FOR 532/OEA/M. NICKSON-DORSEY/JAY HATFIELD USDOC FOR 3131/USFCS/OIO/ANESA/KREISSL USDOC FOR 4530/MAC/ANESA/OSA ICE HQ FOR STRATEGIC INVESTIGATIONS STATE FOR EB/ESP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC ETRD BEXP IN SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: MUNICIPAL CORPORATION CHANDIGARH, LICENSE NO. D364557 REF: USDOC 05595 ¶1. Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12(c) of the Export Administration Act. ¶2. Export Control Officer (ECO) Michael Rufe and BIS FSN Prem Narayan conducted a Pre-license Check (PLC) at the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh (MCC),Chandigarh, on November 6, 2006. ¶3. BIS requested a PLC at MCC, website: www.mcchandigarh.gov.in. MCC was listed as the End-User and Vijay Sabre Safety Ltd. (VSSL) as the Ultimate Consignee for one Model T3XT thermal image camera controlled under ECCN 6A003. The license applicant was Bullard Inc. (Bullard),Cynthiana, KY. ¶4. The ECO met for approximately 2 hours with H.S. Kandhola (Kandhola),Joint Commissioner, M.L. Sharma Station Fire Officer and S.K. Gosain, Station Fire Officer. The meeting was facilitated by Deputy Secretary (AMS) Prashant Agrawal (Agrawal),Ministry of External Affairs (MEA),GOI. Agrawal was also present in the meeting. ¶5. MCC officials were not aware of the BIS regulations. This was the first USG or BIS official visit to MCC. In March 2006, MCC invited bids for procurement of a thermal imaging camera. MCC received three bids including VSSL. VSSL submitted the bid on behalf of its U.S. principal, Bullard. Based on meeting all MCC specifications and the lowest price the tender was awarded to VSSL. Kandhola provided a copy of the VSSL bid, MCC Purchase Order in favor of VSSL and Bullard's End-Use questionnaire with MCC's responses. The Purchase Order number given in reftel was that of VSSL to Bullard, not MCC to VSSL. ¶6. Kandhola stated that the camera on order would be used by MCC's Fire Department. The Fire Department of Chandigarh operates under MCC administrative control. Chandigarh has seven fire stations including the Central Fire Station. The Central Fire Station is the largest equipped with two imported emergency rescue trucks. It also serves as the headquarters for all seven fire stations. By default all emergency service calls are received at the Central Fire Station and, depending on the urgency and geographical jurisdiction, diverted to the appropriate fire station for fire and/or rescue operations. ¶7. Kandhola stated that all Chandigarh fire stations/personnel will have access to use the camera. VSSL will impart operational training of the camera to senior fire station officers and in turn they will train the other firemen at all seven fire stations. Central Fire Station personnel will maintain a usage log for the camera. The camera will be stored in a locked safe at the Central Fire Station where the dispatcher is located. ¶8. Kandhola confirmed the stated end-use of the camera. It will be used for search and rescue of persons entrapped in fire and smoke engulfed areas. It will also be used for locating important properties/records in fire and smoke engulfed areas. ECO was taken to the Central Fire Station and shown the lockable safe where the camera will be stored. ¶9. The city of Chandigarh is one of the designated Union Territories in India governed by the Central Government. Chandigarh serves as the capital for two Indian states, Haryana and Punjab. Chandigarh's total population is approximately one million and it is spread over an area of 125 square kilometers. ¶10. MCC, established in 1994, is a semi-governmental organization responsible for providing major civic amenities to Chandigarh residents. MCC is responsible for sanitation, water supply and sewerage, roads, slum development, fire services, environment and city beautification. In addition to fire rescue services, the Fire Department is also used in other emergencies such as natural calamities, building collapse, and flooding. The MCC's Fire Department owns approximately 25 rescue trucks. It employs approximately 200 fire fighters including one Chief Fire Officer, Four Senior Fire Officers, two Sub Senior Fire Officers, 32 leading firemen and 161 firemen. ¶11. Recommendation: Post recommends Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh as a reliable recipient of the controlled U.S. origin commodity. All indications are that the listed commodity will be used in accordance with U.S. export control regulations (MKRUFE) Mulford