New Delhi, July 02: The Centre would set up a National
Intelligence Grid (NIG) and National Counter-Terrorism Centre
(NCTC) by September-end this year with a view to strenthening
the intelligence-sharing and analysing mechanism in the
country.
According to the Action Plan II released by Union Home
Ministry for June one to September 30 this year, the
estbalishment of NIG would be completed by September 30 as the
Multi Agency Centre (MAC), which shares intelligence
information with states and the security establishment, had
already come into existence in the first phase.
The proposed NIG was set up to get quick and seamless
and secured access to desired information for intelligence and
law enforcement agencies in the country.
The user agencies and the databases have been identified.
The complete NATGRID programme is likely to be delivered in
three phases within two years, official sources said.
The Union Home Ministry has also fixed September 30 for
finalising proposal and obtaining necessary approvals for
setting up of NCTC.
NCTC aims at creating a "National Network Security
Architecture" to address a host of problems that plague the
internal security structure.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his first stint, had
directed National Security Advisor M K Narayanan to prepare a
report having two important recommendations which includes
setting up of a detailed reporting structure and creating
joint commands with central and state representatives for
Naxal-affected areas.
While NCTC will be the apex body, it will have "collation
and fusion" centres down to the district level so that
intelligence can be streamlined and relayed more effectively.
Every state will have a subsidiary multi-agency centre that
will be connected to the NCTC.
The other key recommendation of having joint commands in
Naxal-affected areas is to facilitate easier access to central
forces and, more importantly, conceive, coordinate, plan and
execute operations more effectively.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, July 02, 2009, 23:38