4 more districts included under SRE scheme

The Pioneer, Oct 22, 2011
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and raised the issue of growing Maoist menace and sought strategic Central assistance to deal with the problem.
Appreciating the issue raised by Patnaik, the Union Home Minister assured all possible assistance to combat the Maoists and said the Central Government had approved Odisha's proposal for inclusion of four Maoist-prone districts under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme as well as decided to include three more districts under the Integrated Action Plan.

On the Maoist management issues, the Chief Minister emphasised the expansion of SRE to more districts in view of the increasing activities of the Maoists. He reiterated the demand to include four more districts of Nuapada, Bargarh, Balangir and Kalahandi under the (SRE) scheme.

He also requested Chidambaram for deployment of two additional battalions of Central Para Military Force (CPMF) by December 2011, early deputation of experienced field level officers from CPMF to Government of Odisha and placement of at least two MI-17 helicopters at the disposal of the State Police deserve to be accorded priority to accelerate the fight against the Maoists.
The Union Home Minister was requested to entrust construction of Gurupriya Bridge in Malkangiri district to the CPMF, considered necessary for carrying out effective anti-Maoist operations.
The Chief Minister also sought from Chidambaram for waiver of charges amounting to `567.55 crore towards deployment of CPMF covering the period up to July 30, 2011 and reiterated his request to include five more districts — Bargarh, Ganjam, Nayagarh,Dhenkanal and Jajpur —, under the Integrated Action Plan (lAP) Scheme.

The Union Home Minister also informed that the Government of India has approved four more districts namely, Nuapada, Bargarh, Bolangir and Kalahandi under the SRE scheme. Deputation of suitable officers from CPMF for deployment in Odisha is also under active consideration, he stated.

Chidambaram informed that one additional battalion of CRPF is being deployed shortly but the deployment of BSF battalion may take another two-three months. He added that indent for two MI-17 helicopters has already been issued and placement is expected shortly. It was also informed that the Central Government has approved three more districts of Ganjam, Nayagarh and Jajpur under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP).

The Union Minister appreciated the difficulties being faced by the State in carrying out effective anti-Maoist operations due to delay in construction of Gurupriya Bridge and assured that he would seriously consider the proposal for having the work executed through a Central agency.

Regarding the Chief Minister's demand for waiver of charges towards deployment of CPMF covering a period up to June 30, 2011, the Union Home Minister informed that he had already taken up the matter with the Union Finance Minister.

Besides, the Union Home Minister assured to consider and approve the flood assistance to Odisha soon as the Chief Minister expressed his displeasure on the delay in release of Central assistance towards the flood damage.

During the meeting with the Chief Minister who urged for immediate release of Rs1,000 crore to continue the post flood repair and restoration work in 21 districts, Chidambaram informed that the Central team that visited Odisha assessed the flood damage, would submit its final report by October 24. The high-level committee comprising Union Agriculture, Finance and Home Ministers is expected to be convened very shortly to consider and approve assistance, Chidambaram said.

Patnaik ,who was in Delhi on a five-day visit apprised Chidambaram about large-scale loss of life, individual property and public infrastructure caused by the two phases of severe floods.

Drawing the attention of the Union Home Minister regarding the damage caused in the rural areas and the sufferings of large number of marginal farmers, whose standing crops suffered widespread damage, the Chief Minister urged him on the need to liberally provide assistance to the Government of Odisha to mitigate the adverse impact of the natural calamity.

Stating that the damage in various sectors due to the floods has been estimated at `3,265 crore and the State Government had already initiated repair and restoration work on war footing, the Chief Minister requested the Union Home Minister to immediately consider releasing `1,000 crore as advance assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund to enable the State to sustain its efforts.