New Delhi (PTI): Defence Financial Controllers have been asked to frame speedy disbursement procedures, lack of which was blocking the services from going in for weapons and platform purchases, Defence Minister, A K Antony, said on Monday.

Virtually pulling up the the controllers, he said though the Cabinet had cleared devolution of more financial powers to three services on capital purchases, lack of disbursement procedures was hampering the services from going in for weapons and platform purchases and optimal utilisation of the funds.

"Enough money is there, clearance too is there, but weapon purchases projects are not getting off the ground," he said in his address to the three-day Defence Financial Controllers conference here.

With the top brass of the three services in attendance, the Minister said such lack of procedures was hitting the much-needed modernisation of the forces.

The conference is taking place against the backdrop of India being on the verge of signing a number of mega defence deals running into billions of dollars this year.

The contracts would range from purchase of weapons platforms like maritime reconnaissance aircraft, spy drones, light and heavy artillery guns, fighter aircraft and radars and counter electronic warfare systems.

The three-day conference being attended by financial controllers of the defence ministry comes in the wake of recent reports that Indian Defence Financial officials still lack the finesse in negotiating mega deals.

Media reports in Israel recently spoke of India paying almost double the amount for purchase of three AWACS aircraft from Telaviv. India is reported to have finalised the deal for 1.1 billion dollars, for which China was only prepared to pay 358 million dollars.

There are also reports that Indian defence industry, which mostly comprises the Defence Public Sector Undertakings and Ordnance factorites board are still grappling with means to absorb offsets, which have now been made mandatory in all defence contracts exceeding Rs 300 crore.

Apparently these issues riding high on his mind, the Defence Minister told the controllers that they would have to come to grips with modern system of defence purchases.

While lauding the move to go in for computerisations and online auditing, Antony reminded them that it was still the man behind the machine, which counted in the long run.

"Going online and computerisation should not be allowed to overshadow humane side of doing things," he said.

In this context here referred to sad plight of ex-servicemen saying "when they are in uniform, they are the darling of nation, but once they hang up their fighting boots, they are in bad condition".