Govt sanctions Rs 120 cr to fortify 400 police stations across the country

The Centre has sanctioned Rs 120 crore to fortify 400 police stations located in Naxal affected areas across the country.

Official sources said the first instalment of Rs 30 lakh to each of the 400 police stations has been sanctioned for construction of new buildings, residential complex, bunkers and to procure arms and communication equipment.

Earlier, the Home Ministry had decided to fortify the 400 police stations located in 83 Naxal-hit districts at a cost of Rs two crore each. Out of this amount the Central government will provide Rs 1.60 crore while the remaining Rs 40 lakh would be given by the State governments.

“Rs 30 lakh is the first instalment. We will release the remaining amount phase-wise,” a source said.

This project is part of the Home Ministry’s continuous effort to provide assistance in terms of extending logistics and deploying paramilitary forces to the States to fight Maoists.

The Central government has shouldered its share of responsibility in dealing with the Maoists and has deployed 71 battalions (around 71,000 personnel) of paramilitary forces.

The budget allocation under Security Related Expenditure scheme has been increased to Rs 337 crore in 2011-12 as against only Rs 80 crore in 2008-09.

Likewise, the Budget allocation under Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS) has been increased to Rs 140 crore in 2011-12 as against only Rs 30 crore in 2009-10.

The Centre has also placed Rs 3,300 crore with the District Administration of 60 districts under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) and 67,175 works are under implementation.

Eighteen more districts will be added under IAP in 2012-13 Naxal violence has been reported in areas falling under 270 police stations in 64 districts in eight states.

Upto August, there have been around 850 incidents (1,025 last year), resulting in around 300 deaths (473 last year).

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