Rajgir (Bihar), Oct 12: Defence Minister George Fernandes today said that two new military stations would be set up soon in north Bihar. Inaugurating the 19th Sainik School of the country here, the Defence Minister said setting up of new military stations -- one at Katihar and another at Goplaganj- in north Bihar would further strengthen the country's defence.
Fernandes said that the work on the ordnance factory at Rajgir was in full swing and it would become operational in next three years. The factory would provide direct employment to at least 5,000 people besides providing indirect employment to others, he said.
The minister said the defence ministry would provide job to at least one member of the family whose land had been acquired for setting up the ordnance factory and for this selection process had already been completed. He said the defence ministry would start the recruitment drive in next four months in over a dozen districts of Bihar.
Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi reciprocated by heaping praises on Fernandes for allotting two Sainik Schools to Bihar after the lone Sainik School at Jhumri Tilaya went to Jharkhand following division of the state in November 2000.
RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav said, ''We will always support any good work by the Centre, which is in the interest of the state.'' Bureau Report