Mail News Service
New Delhi, May 2 : The expenditure borne by the States and Union Government on maintenance of paramilitary forces in various States of the North East Region (NER) in the last 3 years ( 2009-10 to 2011-12) is as under:
Union Government:- Rs. 12318.58 crore
State Governments:- Rs. 288.70 crore
As per existing policy the North-Eastern States, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are required to bear only 10% of the cost of deployment of Central Armed Police Forces in their States. Therefore the North Eastern States, J&K and Himachal Pradesh already have been given sufficient relief compared to the other States who are required to bear the full cost of deployment
This was stated by Shri Jitendra Singh, Minister of State of Home Affairs in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
At present, there is no proposal to raise tribal battalion for Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected States. However, recruitment of constables (General Duty) in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) is being done through Staff Selection Commission, wherein 20% vacancies in Border Guarding Forces and 40% vacancies in forces other than Border Guarding Forces are allotted to militancy affected areas, including LWE affected areas.
The Government had sanctioned the construction of fencing along the IBB in two phases. The total length of Indo-Bangladesh border sanctioned to be fenced under Phase-I and Phase-II is 3436.59 km; out of which about 2760.12 km of fencing has so far been completed. In addition, the Government of India has sanctioned a project (Phase-III) for replacing the entire fencing constructed under Phase-I. So far, 790 km (out of 861 km) of fencing has been replaced under Phase-III.
277 km of floodlighting has been completed in West Bengal as a pilot project. The Government has decided to undertake additional floodlighting in 2840 km along Indo- Bangladesh border. The work of floodlighting in new border areas for a length of 1015 km has been completed of which 757 km has been energized. Additionally, in about 612 km of floodlighting work is under progress at different stages i.e. erection of poles, laying of cables, fitting of fixtures and energization.
As per the present approval, the above works were targeted to be completed by March, 2012. However, this has spilled over as the balance work lies primarily in difficult stretches and involve issues like land acquisition, public habitation, forest! wildlife clearance, fencing within 150 yards of international border etc.
The Government has sanctioned 2043.63 km of border fencing and 2009.52 km of floodlighting along the IPB; out of which 1953.50 km of border fencing and 1900.92 km of floodlighting has been completed.
As per the present approval (accorded on 20.07.2009), the above works are targeted to be completed by March‘ 2012 or three working seasons. However, this is likely to spill over as the balance work involves the difficult areas of the Rann of Kutch in the Gujarat sector.
Expenditure incurred/sanction issued are more than the allocated funds as sanctions were issued based on the BE while the allocation was revised downwards at RE stage later.
This was stated by Shri Mullappally Ramachandran, Minister of State of Home Affairs in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/expenditure-on-maintenance-of-paramilitary-forces-in-ner/
