MADURAI: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday inaugurated phase I and laid the foundation for phase II for the 45th battalion of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at Idayapatti, near Madurai, the first in south India.
Chidambaram said that the ITBP, predominantly deployed in Indo-China border areas, is unique among all para-military forces in India. The soldiers serve in unimaginable conditions; at 15,000 feet high hostile terrain in the Himalayas which sees heavy rainfall.
Today, about 4,000 soldiers, including about 770 from Tamil Nadu, are part of the ITBP, unlike earlier when recruitment was largely confined to states like Uttarakhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
The objective of the 45th battalion at Idayapatti, he said, was to enable the soldiers from TN to stay close to their families during their periodical rest and recuperation phase. Besides, it would motivate youngsters from the state to join the ITBP, he opined.
He said that the ITBP also undertakes disaster management missions, besides engaging in activities like rainwater harvesting. He said that the 45th battalion would harness solar energy productively. The presence of the battalion would spur economic development in the area, he added.
He further said that his ministry is mulling setting up of such battalions in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Earlier, Ranjit Kumar Bhatia, Director-General, ITBP, said that he was proud that TN soldiers were serving in various parts of India. He said that the 45th battalion also engages in activities like water conservation, distribution of medicines to the locals.
The infrastructure for the battalion comprises three phases - I, II & III costing Rs 48.90 crore - comprises semi-permanent structures, barbed wire fencing, administration block, workshop, stores, a ten-bedded hospital, stadium and indoor hall. Besides, residential quarters are being planned on public-private partnership model.
Nitin Agarwal, IG, ITBP, S K Sharma, DIG, ITBP, P K Negi, Commandant, ITBP, C Kamaraj, Madurai Collector, and soldiers of ITBP, were present at the event.
Later, Chidambaram laid the foundation for ITBP’s regional training centre at Ilupakudi in Sivagangai.
feedback@expressbuzz.com