HimVani
New Delhi (Feb 1): Himachal Pradesh government today requested the Centre to sanction one battalion of National Disaster Response Force for the state.
While speaking at the Chief Ministers’ conference on internal security, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the state falls under zone five of seismic zone and is prone to cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides, avalanches and other natural calamities and pleaded for setting up of one battalion for immediate response in case of any natural calamities. He offered land and other possible assistance for setting up such battalion in the state.
He pleaded for strengthening of police establishments, mainly for collection of intelligence in Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur districts boarding China, keeping in view recent development of civil and military infrastructure along Tibet border by China and suggested setting up requisite infrastructure for speedy and reliable connectivity. He demanded enhancement of allocations under Border Area Development Programme in the state and pleaded for construction of broad-gauge railway line connecting Manali to Leh to improve movement of man and material to strategically important border areas of Ladakh. He demanded subsidized helicopter services to border tribal areas of the state during winter months on the pattern of north-eastern states to strengthen the security and integrity of the country.
He also requested full reimbursement the expenditure on deployment of ITBP in areas bordering J&K till complete normalization of situation in J&K. The Chief Minister further requested the Union government to sanction Rs 30 crore for strengthening training infrastructure and told that 3 companies of IR Battalion have been provided commando training in the state. He requested the release of Rs 35.82 crore central share of raising cost of 3 IR battalions in the state and told that state has raised 4th and 5th IR battalion and recruitment process for 6th IR battalion has been completed and training for its personal has also started. He demanded central assistance of Rs 19.6 crore for fully implementing the proposed plan under CCTNS project in the state and added that the state has utilized Rs 1.3 crore out of total grant of Rs 2.3 crore provided for capacity building and training of manpower in the state.
