New Delhi: A whopping Rs 4,600 crore used for modernising Central Armed Police Forces and Rs 610 crore grant for Jammu and Kashmir and other northeastern states to meet security related expenditures were among other initiatives taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs in the current fiscal.
However, the government`s two ambitious projects -- Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) and NATGRID -- remained behind schedule by nine and five months respectively.
Besides this, Rs 210 crore were released to construct 400 state-of-the-art police stations in Left Wing Extremism affected states during financial year 2011-12, Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters while presenting the monthly report card of his Ministry here on Saturday. "Rs 2,485 crore was spent under five provisioning heads for purchase of arms and ammunition and equipment for the CAPFs. Rs 2,128 crore was sanctioned for land acquisition, building and Border Out Posts (BOPs) of CAPFs," Chidambaram said.
He said Rs 460.68 crore was released to J&K and Rs 350 crore was given to the northeastern states under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme during the financial year ending today.
"CCTNS project continued to make progress, but it is nine months behind schedule. NATGRID received in principle approval and is making progress, but it is five months behind schedule," Chidambaram said.
The Home Minister pointed out major initiatives taken by the Ministry to further strengthen internal security mechanism in the country including grant of about Rs 385 crore to LWE affected states. "Rs 210 crore was released to take up construction of 400 model police stations at the cost of Rs 2 crore per police station in LWE-affected states," he said.
Also, the Ministry of Home Affairs released Rs 800 crore to states under the Modernisation of Police Forces scheme.
In a first of its kind move, a special industry initiative scheme for J&K was launched and eight corporates have signed up to impart training to 8,290 youth. A website Udaan (http://www.nsdcindia.org/Udaan), aimed at skill development of youths in J-K, was also launched, he said.
Chidambaram said 70,220 projects at a cost of Rs 3,480 were sanctioned and funds released under the Integrated Action Plan scheme in 78 selected districts, of which 45,652 projects have been completed and the remaining 24,568 projects are expected to be completed by May/June this year.
He said 1,695 cadres belonging to nine different outfits surrendered with their weapons to the Government of Assam.
The Ministry gave approvals to raise 10 new Specialised India Reserve Battalions, sanctioned 3,477 posts for CAPFs, and 274 posts and Rs 85 crore for National Police Academy to augment its infrastructure.
It also issued orders for setting up of new offices of National Investigation Agency (NIA) at Mumbai, Lucknow and Kochi. "35 cases were assigned to NIA for investigation out of which charge sheets have been filed in 21 cases. Two cases resulted in conviction. 265 new posts were sanctioned," he said.
Chidambaram said that a High level Committee approved Rs 3,679 crore to states for disaster relief, out of which states accessed National Disaster Relief Fund to the extent of Rs 2,201 crore.
About 8,430 National Disaster Relief Force personnel were deployed in rescue and relief work during the year who saved 19,488 lives while performing their duties, he added.
PTI