Govt to unveil mega city security plan

NEW DELHI: A mega city security plan is proposed to be put in place in several cities to deal with terror attacks, Home Minister Shivraj Patil told the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

 

The government has also decided to raise 300 battalions of Central para-military forces fully equipped with modern weapons and communication system, Patil said in his reply to a marathon discussion on increasing incidents of terrorist violence in the country.

 

He said a sum of Rs 4,184 crore would be spent for modernisation of Central para-military forces.

 

To deal with terror and other violent incidents, it has been decided to allow Maharashtra government to raise two battalions of Indian Reserve Foce at a cost of Rs 100 crore, he said.

 

Patil said states would be given Rs 1025 crore for raising new battalions to augment their forces.

 

Patil said India needs a mega city plan to protect its big cities from terrorist attacks and cameras need to be installed on a large scale.

 

The Minister announced that a security plan for the Delhi Metro is almost complete and Kolkata Metro, and those proposing to have a metro like Bangalore, can implement the same if it is suitable to them.

 

"The plan for Delhi Metro can be examined by West Bengal, if needed government of India will extend all help," he said.

 

"We are in the process of developing a plan to provide security to mega cities," Patil said.

 

The Home Minister said metro rails will be given full security with all assistance from the Centre.

 

He said more manpower and modern gadgets will be required and experiences of other countries in dealing with similar situation will be shared.

 

He said the government has almost put in place a plan to tackle terrorists hiding in forests.

 

He said states have to frame mega city policies and Centre will extend all kind of help.

 

"Mumbai is the financial capital of the country, so it has become a target of terror and the government of Maharashtra needs to look at these aspects and prepare a plan and forward it to the Centre," Patil said.

 

Condemning the "dastardly" act of terror in Mumbai, Patil said there was a need to revamp the security system and this should include use of helicopters and other modern equipment.

 

Stating the Railways and various ministries and departments are engaged in a plan to provide better security, Patil said "if necessary, laws can be changed and new laws can be made".

 

He said the coordination between Railways and the state police needed to be tuned up and this aspect is being looked into by the Railway Ministry and the Railway Board.

 

The Minister said soon necessary steps would be taken and this would include infusion of new technology.

 

Patil said once Mumbai prepared a mega city security plan and forwarded it to the Centre, the "Government of India will definitely look at this plan and if found suitable, the same plan can be used for other mega cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore".

 

He said the plans could be modified according to requirements of cities.

 

Patil congratulated the Mumbai administration for effectively handling the situation after the blasts.

 

He said the government would also take measures to sensitise the authorities in vital installations.

 

Patil said the Centre had provided vital information to states on possible terror attacks though sometimes it could falter on the exact place of attack.

 

The Minister said cameras would play a major role in help maintain vigil against any attack and the Parliament terror attack was foiled to a great extent due to camera facilities.

 

He said the government would look into the possibility of installing more cameras at sensitive places.

 

Stressing on the need to augment police forces, Patil said on an average there was one policeman for a population of 740-750 in India as against one police personnel for 82 citizens in Russia.

 

In India, if one takes into account the use of police force to meet requirement of issuing summons and notices, the ratio would decline to one policeman for 900 people. 

 

Patil said about Rs 314 crore are given for meeting security related expenses and this excluded funds for modernisation and construction of new jails.

 

He said a sum of Rs 192 crore has been provided for construction of new jails.

 

The Minister expressed concern that low fund allocations meant for some minor projects are not utilised by the big states though this was not the case with smaller states.

 

As far as Maharashtra was concerned, a sum of Rs 88.78 crore was allocated for modernisation of police forces during 2005-06, the Minister said.

 

A sum of Rs 330 crore had been allocated for the backward districts initiative, he said adding some funds under the scheme remained unutilised.

 

Patil said the Government did not hold any community as a whole responsible for violence in the country.

 

He said as part of its multi-pronged approach to control violence, the Government is prepared to hold dialogue with any group which is ready to shun violence.

 

He also said the Government was keen on bringing about all round economic development to prevent the people from getting misguided and added that special emphasis was being laid on the northeastern region and naxal-hit areas.

 

The Home Minister said collecting timely intelligence and acting on it promptly can help in checking terrorism.

 

He also said the Government was planning to insure all policemen in the country.

 

On a suggestion for having a federal force, he said there was no consensus yet on it.

 

As the Minister continued with his reply, members belonging to BJP and Shiv Sena staged a walkout saying his reply was not to the point.

 

On complaints of police high-handedness in Mumbai, Patil said the Maharashtra Government will be asked to stop excesses, if any.