Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 14 2009:
Union ministry of home affairs has released a fund amounting to Rs 19.89 crore to the state for the modernization of state police forces under Centre sponsored scheme.
Official source said that the total amount released includes Rs 6.65 crore for procuring new vehicles, Rs 1.95 crore for buying weapons, Rs 1.92 crore for purchasing latest communication equipments and Rs 1.14 for imparting training to the police and IRB personnel.
In the history of Manipur police, it is only during the period of present DGP Y Joykumar which the Union Ministry of home affairs provided huge amount of fund for the modernization of state police force.
Before, he was DGP, Centre had not sanctioned fund upto Rs 20 crore.
But, funds released in the last two years could not be fully utilized by the state police department.
There were instants of MHA pressing the state government to provide utilization certificates for the funds released to the state.
At the latest, the ministry has asked the state government to submit utilization certificates for the funds within April 1, 2011, the source said.
In 2008-09, MHA released Rs 39.23 crore for the modernization of state police forces.
At the time too, state government was asked to submit utilization certificates by April 1, 2010.But till date how much funds have been utilized could not be ascertained.
Source said that the fund is yet to fully utilize.
Out of total fund released during 2008-09, Rs 6.25 crore was mean for procuring 1000 MP-15 rifles, Rs 5.25 crore for buying hovercraft for flushing out undergrounds in Loktak Lake.
State government incurred Rs 12.09 crore under the central sponsored Modernisation of Police Forces in the year 2006-07.In the next year 20087-08, MHA released Rs 32.07 crore but only Rs 29.91 crore spent.
State had provided utilization certificates for the said funds, the source added.
On the other hand, MHA constituted a high power committee with additional secretary as chairman has approved the MPF action annual plan.
The process for monitoring the action plan has started.
As per directive of the MHA, state also constituted a state level high power committee to monitor the implementation of the scheme and monitoring the implementation of the scheme in the state, the source disclosed.