RAIPUR : The Chhattisgarh government has written to the Union home ministry seeking funds in its fight against Maoists. The state government has said that it is under a severe financial strain in trying to maintain the huge central paramilitary forces deployed for anti-Naxal operations.The BJP-ruled state has urged the Centre to waive off expenditure of around ` 7,500 crore incurred on troopers including Central Reserve Police Force, Cobra Battalion, Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Central Industrial Security Force.The arrival of paramilitary forces in Chhattisgarh began during the first Assembly polls in November 2003. The strength of deployed forces has since gone up as the state engaged in a war with the outlawed CPI (Maoist).
“The expenditure is usually the salary components of the deployed forces in Chhattisgarh. The state has written to the Centre urging to meet the sustained expenses as the amount remains huge,” said additional director general of police (planning and provisioning/technical services) R K Vij.
Establishment cost of over 48,000 troopers, mostly in areas affected by left-wing extremism, are borne by Security-Related Expenditure schemes, shared by the Centre and state. In Chhattisgarh there are 45 battalions and around 125 base camps for security forces.
As per guidelines, the Centre bears the entire cost of its forces for the initial three years. Later, the onus shifts to the state. The Centre provided funds from 2004 to 2007. The state insisted that the conditions under which the troops were deployed still persist. It said 16 of the 27 districts have Maoists and the troopers are needed.In earlier responses to the state, the home ministry has categorically stated that barring Jammu & Kashmir, Northeast states, and Himachal Pradesh, other states will have to bear the cost of forces deployed in the respective regions.