11 helicopters deployed in Naxal-hit states

New Delhi, Feb 18: Eleven

have been deployed by the government in

-hit states to support the security forces tackling the extremists, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

Minister of State for Home RPN Singh said the choppers, belonging to Indian Air Force and the Border Security Force, are available for use as per operational requirement in all Left Wing Extremism affected states.

"In addition, the LWE affected states have been permitted to hire helicopter under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme on need basis," he said in a written reply.

Under the SRE scheme, the Central government provides assistance to the 9 LWE affected states for security related expenditure.

Under it, the expenditure is first incurred by the state government and thereafter reimbursed by the Central government after conducting audit in the respective states.

A total of Rs 188.58 crore has been allocated to the nine states under the SRE in 2013-14, Rs 180.66 crore in 2012-13, Rs 187.48 crore in 2011-12 and Rs 299.06 crore in 2010-11.

PTI