New Delhi Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday demanded enhancing the security-related expenditure (SRE) budget for the state during the current fiscal to tackle the Naxal menace.
"The SRE should be enhanced to Rs 61.50 crore during the current year," he said addressing a meeting of the Naxal- affected states here and added that at least 50 per cent of the budget should be provided as advance to the state.
The socio-economic development of the Naxal-hit areas continues to be the priority of the state, he said and also demanded release of Rs 70 crore to Orissa, as recommended by the 13th Finance Commission this year.
Patnaik said districts of Koraput, Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Kandhamal should be included in the existing approved list of 34 districts of Planning Commission for intensive development and modification of the Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS).
He sought deputation of 15-20 officers from Central paramilitary forces to lead the state's armed battalions in the anti-Naxalite operations and deployment of three battalions of CRPF in the northern part of the state to tackle the Naxal menace.
While welcoming a new scheme of the Home Ministry for allocating Rs two crore per police station in the Naxal- affected districts on 80:20 sharing basis, he informed that 75 police stations in the state would be taken up in the first phase under the scheme.
He demanded relaxation in the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 to provide for diversion of forest land for setting up of police establishments, as was done earlier in 2005.
Patnaik underlined the need to strengthen the security along the Orissa-Chattisgarh border by including two more districts of Kalahandi and Nuapada under SRE Scheme.
The Chief Minister sought placing a helicopter at the disposal of the state for mobilising troops and supplies and urged the Defence Ministry to conduct special recruitment drives for tribal youths of Orissa in the armed forces.
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