NEW DELHI: The Centre will soon raise a special force comprising security and engineering components to support and implement development works in Naxal affected states.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has received approval to raise seven Special India Reserve Battalions comprising 7,000 personnel and the recruitment process will start soon.
“The special battalions will have security and engineering components to support and implement development works in Naxal areas,” an official said.
The need for such a force has come to fore as contractors are not willing to work in many Naxal-affected areas due to fear of violence. It is to be noted that lack of development has resulted in many youths joining the extremists in these areas.
As the Centre has launched several development schemes targeting the Maoist-hit areas, implementation of these programmes has become a daunting task for the government.
“Some of the personnel in the force will provide security, while others with technical knowledge will execute the work,” the official said.
The Budget allocation under Special Infrastructure Scheme has been increased to Rs 140 crore in 2011-12 as against Rs 30 crore in 2009-10.
Through the Integrated Action Plan, the Centre has placed Rs 3,300 crore with the administration of 60 districts and 67,175 works are under implementation. 18 more districts will be added in 2012-13.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is also implementing a Rs 7,300 crore Road Requirement Plan for the Left Wing Extremism affected states.
The Ministry is also planning to launch a Rs 1607.63- crore project for development of corridor of road network on inter-state borders of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, considered a Naxal hub. (PTI)