Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 15: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today approved projects worth about Rs 550 crores including those covered under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) for Jammu and Kashmir at a high level meeting held in New Delhi. The MHA has assured more funding to the State if it raised the spending capacity.
The meeting was presided over by MHA’s Special Secretary (Internal Security) Ashok Prasad, who had earlier served as Director General of Police (DGP) in Jammu and Kashmir. Top brass of J&K attended the meeting.
Official sources told the Excelsior that out of Rs 740.79 crores worth projects submitted for approval by the State to the MHA in the meeting, the Centre has given nod for over Rs 550 crores worth projects. However, in principle, the MHA has agreed to funds all projects worth Rs 740.79 crores provided that the State increased its spending capability.
“The MHA has approved Rs 26 crores for purchase of 200 vehicles including bullet-proof cars and Rs 5 crores each for two cross-LoC Trade Facilitation Centres at Chakan-Da-Bagh in Poonch and Salamabad in Baramulla,” sources said, adding the remaining amount has been assured in the phases especially after the sanctioned amount was utilized.
The meeting among others was attended by Principal Chief Controller of Accounts (Home), MHA, Director (Finances/Home), MHA, Principal Secretary (Home), J&K, BR Sharma, Financial Commissioner (Industries and Commerce), J&K, Khurshid Ganaie, Director General of Police (DGP), J&K, K Rajendra Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Dr Shesh Pal Vaid and Director Industries and Commerce, Jammu, Dr Sheikh Abdul Rashid. Ashok Prasad chaired the meeting.
Sources said several security related issues including repair work of fencing, installation of new fencing, steps to check infiltration during summer etc were also discussed during the high level meeting held at North Block, New Delhi that lasted more than two hours.
“The issues pertaining to cross-LoC trade also figured during the meeting, The MHA assured all facilities for facilitating the trade including installation of new equipments. Though the MHA release Rs 10 crores only (Rs 5 crores each for Chakan-Da-Bagh and Salamabad), it assured to release more funds once the approved funds were utilized,” sources said, adding the MHA officials pointed out that the State has less spending capacity due to limited working season.
“Most of the police requirements pertaining to purchase of vehicles, re-imbursement of SRE etc have been conceded,” they said.
The meeting reviewed security situation and restoration of infrastructure of Jammu and Kashmir Police damaged due to September 2014 floods, providing basic facilities to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), upgradation of infrastructure at cross-LoC points of Chakan-Da-Bagh in Jammu region and Salamabad in Kashmir, Annual Action Plan under Security Related Expenditure (SRE), basic facilities for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) among others.
They said a proposal to sanction Rs 318.07 crores for restoration of infrastructure of Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP), which was damaged in September 2014 floods was discussed in the meeting and agreed upon based on some conditions and utilization of amount.
Another proposal approved was providing basic facilities to the CRPF deployed in J&K amounting to Rs 142.13 crores. Annual Action Plan under the SRE (Works Programme) for 2015-16 amounting to Rs 209.31 crores was also given the nod.
Sources said the SRE Works Programmes amounting to Rs 15.45 crores for improvement of basic facilities for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) guarding various jail complexes in Jammu and Kashmir has also been approved. “Maintenance of assets created under Alternate Accommodation and SRE Works Programmes amounting to Rs 20 crores and Rs 10.42 crores respectively was approved in the meeting,” sources said.
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