MUMBAI: The Centre has made available Rs 1,000 crore each year for states facing left-wing extremism and asked Maharashtra to submit a plan to claim its share of funds. The state has appointed a committee headed by additional chief secretary of the home department to present a report on naxal problems in Gadchiroli, Gondia and Bhandara.
The Centre has also claimed that in the last eight years, it has spent Rs 10,259 crore on naxal-infested districts and completed 1,43,687 infrastructure works.
The Centre has taken many initiatives to tackle the naxal menace. In order to strengthen the states that are worst affected by left-wing extremism, the Centre has approved the Police Modernisation Scheme with provision of Rs 1,000 crore for 35 identified districts per year.
In addition, these 35 districts have been also included as aspirational districts programme under which the Centre in partnership with state governments has been making a concerted endeavour.
In order to get more funds to fight naxal threat, the government on April 5th appointed a committee to prepare a report. The committee appointed under Special Infrastructure Scheme is expected to prepare a report on construction of 250 fortified police stations in naxal affected states," an official from the home department said.
In the past, the Centre had implemented Integrated Action Plan (IAP) in 88 naxal-infested districts in 2010-11. The plan was to equip the districts with public infrastructure and services. Under this scheme, provision of Rs 25 crore per districts per year during 2010-11 and thereafter Rs 30 crore per districts per year was made. On August 1, 2013 the IAP was renamed as 'Additional Central Assistance for Left Wing Extremism Affected Districts' for the rest of 12th five year plan years, the Centre said in its notification.
In Maharashtra so far, 13,222 projects were sanctioned in naxal-hit areas, 13,167 projects were taken up, 10,070 projects were completed and 3,097 are in progress. For the projects, the Centre sanctioned Rs 29,000 crore of which Rs 24,905 crore was spent.
