New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar
on Sunday favoured centralised procurement of sophisticated arms,
ammunition and equipment for state governments under the
Centre-run modernisation of police force scheme.
Pointing out difficulties being faced by state
administrators, Kumar said "procurement of arms, ammunition
and equipment under central Modernisation of Police Force
scheme should be done by MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) and
deliveries should be made to state governments.
"It has been difficult for the state governments to go
through the difficult procurement procedures for sophisticated
equipment (which also include imported items)," he said at the
Chief Ministers' Conference on Internal Security.
The Chief Minister said large manufacturers are very
often not interested in tenders for relatively small
quantities floated by states. "Hence, the Central government
should consider centralised procurement of such items."
He also asked the Centre to consider grant of one-time
100 per cent financial assistance for construction of
buildings for police stations located in Naxalism-affected
districts which do not have their own buildings.
"Naxal situation in Bihar remains under control. We have
implemented a surrender and rehabilitation policy as well as
various operational strategies to tackle the menace of
extremism," he said underlining the need to increase the
number of central paramilitary force companies in the state to
check illegal infiltration, smuggling of narcotics, fake
currency circulation and human trafficking.
"Presently, Bihar has only 23 companies (around 2,300
personnel). A demand for additional 70 companies of CPMF has
been pending with the MHA since long. Moreover, the deputation
of six officers from CPMF to Bihar, as Additional SP
(Operations) in left wing extremism-hit districts, is still
awaited," Kumar said.
He said the government was trying to fill in vacant posts
in police force and establish modern state Police Academy to
increase training capacity of Sub-Inspectors and Deputy
Superintendents of Police.
"Four Counter Insurgency and Anti Terrorist Schools
(CIAT-Schools) are being established at four different places
in Bihar. A well trained and modern police force in Bihar will
serve the needs of the people in an appropriate manner. During
training, special emphasis will be laid on bringing out
positive attitudinal change amongst the trainees," he said.
The Chief Minister pointed to increase in inflow of both
foreign and domestic tourists due to improved law and order
situation in the state.
Kumar also mentioned sanctioning of "river police
stations" as a sizable area of Bihar is covered by the Ganga
and other rivers.
He stressed on strengthening of Forensic Science
Laboratories for better investigations and requested the
Central government to prepare standard measures for it.
"A collaborative approach between the Centre and the
state governments with full respect to the views and concerns
of the state governments will go a long way in addressing the
problems of internal security," Kumar added.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, February 07, 2010, 13:12