SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has defended the grant of Rs.20,06,65,659 for meeting the expenses of the police department during the Lok Sabha election and funds for the different police battalions in the State for maintenance of internal security.

Replying to the cut motion moved by NPP legislator James Sangma, the Chief Minister said that there was substantial visibility in the movement of forces for internal security; besides there was the Lok Sabha election this year and many of the forces were deployed outside the state for polling duties.

The Chief Minister asserted that budgetary allocations sometimes do not cover the kind of expenditure incurred by the police and this usually leads to a lot of liabilities for petrol and spare parts for vehicles.

He said that a substantial amount is also incurred on equipments for maintenance of law and order, while adding that the Government would in no way incur unnecessary expenditure for the State.

Earlier, while moving the cut motion, the NPP MLA questioned the huge jumps in amounts required for the different Meghalaya police battalions.

While participating in the cut motion, Songsak legislator Nihim Shira lamented that the people of Garo Hills were still suffering despite the fact that police had spent huge amounts of money in anti-insurgency operations.

He also wondered if the Government would be able to properly utilize the money for police forces and maintenance of internal security. He further pointed out that SSA teachers who were drawing a salary of Rs.9000 per month were also being served demand notes in Garo Hills.

The MLA was however interrupted by the Speaker and was asked to stick to the issue of expenses incurred by the police department and was told to conclude his speech.

Chokpot MLA Clifford Marak, who also participated in the cut motion, lamented that many police personnel who provide security to the Chief Minister, ministers and MLAs were not getting their TA/DA.