Creation of new force, up gradation of police stations
SHILLONG: While the State government has sent a revised proposal of Rs.500 crore to the Centre for creation of new police stations and also for the up gradation of the existing police stations in Garo Hills, the Union Home Ministry has stressed need to depend on the increased state share of central taxes as per 14th Finance Commission for construction of the police stations.
Consequent to devolvement of finances between the Central and State Governments on the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, Meghalaya has been allocated Rs.3371 crore as its share in Central Taxes in the year 2015-16 compared to Rs.1564.15 crore which was allocated in the year 2014-15.
During the next five years starting from 2015-16, the total share of Meghalaya in Central Taxes is going to be Rs.25,413 crore, which is a major increase in central assistance to the State compared to Rs.5816 crore allocated during the 13th Finance Commission period (2010-11 to 2014-15).
Hence, the Home Ministry wanted the state government has to make adequate budgetary provisions to improve the security situation in the State by allocating funds for criminal justice delivery systems in the State.
The Under Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Sanjay Kumar, in an affidavit filed before the High Court of Meghalaya recently said that earlier after a request from the State government, the Ministry of Home Affairs had submitted a note for seeking approval of Cabinet Committee on Security (CSS) for creation of new police stations and up gradation of existing police stations in Garo Hills. However, the cabinet secretariat returned the cabinet note with certain observations.
The Home Ministry said that no time frame could be fixed for such an administrative and policy decision on the requirement of financial assistance of this magnitude.
The MHA has also to take into account financial assistance required by other North Eastern states in order to beef up security needs.
The official also said that that as per 14th Finance Commission, the share of states in Central taxes has gone up significantly with consequently reduced fiscal space for the Centre.
“Due to increase of share of States, no fund has been allocated or provided during the financial year 2015-16 by the Ministry of Finance to create building and housing under Plan component of Modernization of Police Forces Scheme on the ground that the Scheme stands transferred to the States”, the official said.
According to the MHA official, the Ministry of Finance has also withheld the funding to a proposal of Arunachal Pradesh for construction/up gradation of 20 Police Stations in insurgency affected districts Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh under Security Related Expenditure Scheme of MHA due to increase of share of states under 14th Finance Commission.
“Pursuant to the policy, the State Government may consider to strengthen their Police infrastructure within new pattern of allocation,” the official added.