Centre sanctions Rs 12 crore for raising IRB

Shimla, Feb 12 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today said the Centre has sanctioned a sum of Rs 12.75 crore as central assistance to the state for raising another Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB).

The Union Home Ministry has sanctioned a sum of Rs 12.75 crore to the state after the raising of the battalion was taken up with the minister and followed up by a detailed letter on January 18, last month, he said at New Delhi.

Mr Dhumal said out of a total of 1,000 posts of different categories, 963 would be rank posts, 33 wireless staff and 11 posts of medical and ministerial staff.

The Centre would also provide a sum of Rs eight crore as capital cost for meeting the infrastructure expenditure, he said and added that it would be in the shape of grant-in-aid from funds allotted under security related expenditure.

He said all the vacancies in the battalion would be filled within a two-year period by January 2010.

The Himachal Government would send quarterly report to the Centre on the status of the battalion.

However, the state government would bear the annual recurring expenditure and also the balance of capital nature for providing the basic infrastructure for the battalion, he added.

Mr Dhumal said the battalion would also be made available to the Central Government in times of exigencies and it had been agreed that it could also be deployed in any part of the country.

However, if the battalion was deployed in any other state, prorata recurring expenditure would be borne by it, but in case of its deployment in special category states like Jammu and Kashmir north eastern states the cost would be borne by the Centre, he said.

He said training to the recruits would be imparted as per the model syllabus so as to increase the operational efficiency of the battalion.

About 250 constables would be trained as special task force with special capabilities to work in terrorist/militant affected areas, he said.

A selection board comprising representatives of central police force would be constituted to make all recruitments for the battalion, the Chief Minister added.

UNI XC AS PS BP1909