Chief minister requested the Union Government to fully reimburse the expenditure being incurred on security of His Holiness Dalai Lama

Bijender Sharma
NEW DELHI---Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister has stressed for recruitment in ITBP, CRPF, CISF, para military forces on merit and added that recruitment policy should be formulated accordingly. He was speaking in Chief Ministers conference on internal security at New Delhi today. He also said that present Male recruitable population policy adopted for recruitment in these forces has deprived the young and talented youths from hilly areas to serve the nation.

He asked the Union Government to provide sanction to all the pending bills of the State lying with Government for long time and told that these bills have been passed by Vidhan Sabha which were pending for sanction of President of India and requested the Home Ministry to expedite the sanction on all these bills .

Chief minister requested the Union Government to fully reimburse the expenditure being incurred on security of His Holiness Dalai Lama and Karmapa Lama by the State Government and told that at present only a small part of the expenditure was being reimbursed by ministry of external affairs in case of His Holiness Dalai Lama while the entire expenditure on the security of Karmapa lama was being borne by State Government. He told that State Government will set up Tibetan refugee unit (TR Unit) in State Intelligence Department at Shimla and Tibetan Refugee cell at Dharamshala in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs to effectively monitor the activities of 27542 Tibetan refugees living in the State and requested the Union Government to provide financial assistance to establishing these units

He urged the centre to strengthen the security infrastructure in tribal Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur districts of State bordering China keeping in view of recent development of civil and military infrastructure along Tibet border by Chinese and suggested for setting up requisite infrastructure for speedy and reliable connectivity up to border areas.

He also pleaded for strengthening of police establishments mainly in Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur districts boarding China . He demanded the 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.

Chief Minister requested the Union Govt. to strengthen Narcotic Control Bureau and provide liberal assistance to promote cultivation of alternative crops in cannabis growing areas in mid Himalayan terrains of the State to check the illegal trade of narcotic drugs in the State.

He said that four companies of ITBP and one and half battalion of State armed police has been deployed on border adjoining J& K and requested for reimbursement of Rs 30 crore per annum expenditure on police force as it is an extension of strategy to fight militancy in State. He demanded enhancement of wages of 471 special police officers which has been deployed adjoining Jammu and Kashmir border at par with Home Guard personnel in view of rising cost of living. He also requested to fully reimburse the expenditure on deployment of ITBP force in areas bordering J&K till the complete normalization of situation in J&K. He said that as per Ministry of Home Affairs instructions, the State Govt. is required to pay 10% of the cost deployment beyond 31st March 2009 while there was no such provision regarding reimbursement of 10% charges for the ITBP force deployed in area in 1998 and Union Govt. fully met the expenditure on deployment of I T B P in the area.

Prem Kumar Dhumal also urged the Central Government to sanction Rs. 30 crore for strengthening training infrastructure and said that three companies of IR Battalion have been provided Commando training in the State. He requested for release of Rs 35.82 crore central share for raising of 3 IR battalions in the State and said that State has raised 4th and 5th I R battalion and recruitment process for 6th IR battalion has been completed and training for its personnel 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 State has utilized Rs. 1.3 crore out of total grant of Rs 2.30 crore provided for capacity building and training of manpower in the State. He said that all Police Stations had been computerized and made accessible online in the State. He demanded central assistance of Rs. 600 crore for constructions of 1350 residential quarters, barracks and other facilities for police personnel in the State.

He said that Himachal was one of the most peaceful States in the country despite of proximity to international border, difficult terrains and climatic conditions, prone to natural disasters, population of Tibetan refugees and large influx of tourists. He said that quick reaction teams have been constituted in all district and bomb disposal squads have been activated and put on maximum alert. He said that security set up at all vital installations, religious shrines and tourist destinations have been periodically reviewed on the basis of intelligence inputs received from time to time.

Prem Kumar Dhumal urged the centre to sanction one battalion of National Disaster Response Force in the State. He said that State falls under zone five of seismic zone and is prone to cloud bursts, flash floods, landslides, avalanches and other natural calamities, pleaded for setting up of one battalion for immediate response in case of any natural calamities. He said that land and other possible assistance would be provided for setting up such battalion in the State.