Centre allows Naxal-hit Chhattisgarh to hire choppers

New Delhi, June 6 (UNI) The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today gave permission to Chhattisgarh to hire helicopters from Pawan Hans for six months to use in Naxal-affected areas.

A Ministry spokesman said here the choppers were intended to be used for evacuation of casualties, movement of security personnel and supplies.

Chhattisgarh, which has reported the highest number of casualties (civilian and security personnel) last year and this year, has been directed to make optimum use of choppers by sharing them with neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, which are among the 13 Naxal-affected states in the country.

The spokesman said the expenditure would be reimbursed under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme.

The SRE scheme has been under implementation since 1999, to supplement the efforts of the States to deal with the naxalite problem effectively.

The Scheme was revised comprehensively in 2005 increasing the rates of reimbursement from 50 per cent to 100 per cent and also covering more districts and more items of reimbursement.

The revised scheme also permits advance release of funds to the states. Under the revised scheme, 76 districts in nine states (Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal) are covered and the Ministry reimburses 100 per cent of the expenditure incurred on security related items.

UNI