The Home Ministry’s move to streamline the visa system without consulting other stakeholders has claimed collateral damage in the form of up to 1,000 Russian scientists and engineers working in critical sectors such as defence undertakings and nuclear power plants.
The Ministry’s decision to ask all foreigners working on business visas to get them converted into employment visas means these Russian engineers will have to return to Moscow and apply afresh. As a result, projects with tight timelines such as the Koodankulam nuclear power project could be hit by delays unless a “more flexible” system is worked out, according to official sources. They admitted to having been “taken by surprise” by the Ministry’s move to end the “misuse” of business visas.
Officials said two rounds of talks were held in Moscow and Delhi. Other Ministries whose projects could be affected are in touch with the Home Ministry, given the “close friendship” with Russia and the fact that its engineers are carrying out “important projects.”
It all began when the Home Ministry, concerned at the practice of foreigners taking up employment in India on business visas, decided to set a deadline for converting them into employment visas. As the process sometimes took up to a year, it was decided to set a timeline of 60 days for accepting or rejecting employment visa applications.
While there will be minimal impact on sensitive projects if other foreigners return, Russians are known to be working in impossible-to-replace positions such as the development of a cruise missile and a fifth generation fighter, setting up of nuclear power plants, naval projects and catering to the fighters being imported by India.
“The rule is being applied across the board regardless of who is asking for the visa. The intention is good and sufficient notice was given,” the sources said.
“If the Russians go back, some projects could suffer delays. So we believe there should be a flexible approach,” they said.
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