State wants border funds extended for police revamp

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 23

Even as the state of border infrastructure leaves a lot to be desired, Punjab has sought widening the ambit of the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) to include funding for upgrading the state police resources along the international boundary.

The BADP, a centrally sponsored scheme, was initially aimed at developing infrastructure to facilitate the deployment of border guarding forces and was later expanded to include other socio-economic aspects such as education, health, sports, agriculture and other allied sectors.

During a study visit to the Punjab border, Parliament’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs was told by state government officials that there was an urgent need to modernise the state police force and the personnel posted in border areas for stopping the cross-border crime and infiltration and deserved facilities on a par with the BSF personnel.

“The officials submitted that the Ministry of Home Affairs should incorporate a security component for funding under the BADP guidelines and provide funds to state police forces under that component for improving police infrastructure and facilities in border areas,” the committee, in its latest report that dealt with border security, said.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, in his meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi yesterday, too raised the issue of border security and sought the Centre’s support to modernise the state police.

Over the past few years, the release of BADP funds has been less than the allocation. In 2014-15, the allocation was Rs2,870 lakh, of which Rs2,691 lakh was released. The corresponding figures for 2015-16 were Rs3,814 lakh and Rs3,812 lakh, while those for 2016-17 were Rs2,800 lakh and Rs1,468 lakh, respectively.