Patnaik demands CRPF battalion to fight Naxalism

New Delhi, Sep 5 (UNI) Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today sought Central assistance to develop the Vijayawada-Ranchi security corridor as a National Highway, dereserve four hectares of forest land for development projects and sanction of one more CRPF battalion as part of measures to fight Naxalism in the state.

Mr Patnaik, who was addressing the meeting of Chief Ministers on Internal Security here, detailed the steps taken by the state government to meet the challenge posed by Naxal militancy in 12 districts of the state.

Elaborating on the Vijayawada-Ranchi security corridor, the Chief Minister said the road passing through Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and covering the 12 Naxal-affected districts of Orissa should be developed as a National Highway with special funds sanctioned for the project.

He further demanded that the state governments be delegated with powers to dereserve forest land up to four hectares for developing among others roads, minor irrigation projects and schools.

Mr Patnaik was attending the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the focus on curbing Naxal violence.

While demanding sanction of a CRPF battalion to effectively fight the menace, he also wanted creation of a buffer zone between insurgency-hit Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.

On the steps taken by the state government for meeting the challenge posed by Naxal militancy, he said these included improvement of agriculture and natural resources management, focus on education and skill development, and regularisation of pre-1980 settlements in the forest areas.

"A comprehensive Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy has been put in place which will fully address the needs of the displaced people. Besides, several steps have been taken by the state government to address security-related issues by optimally utilising Central and State Government resources," he told the gathering.

However, he underlined the need to beef up police security. The Home Ministry, Mr Patnaik said, could provide training to about 3,000 police personnel in Central Para Military Force training institutions to supplement the state's own facilities in this regard.

In addition, he wanted inclusion of the Naxal-hit districts of Sambalpur, Deogarh and Jajpur in the Security Related Expenditure Scheme of the Home Ministry.

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