The Union Government has once again rejected the Odisha Government’s appeal to waive pending charges of Rs1,450 crore towards deployment of Central Armed Military Forces (CAMF) in the Maoist-hit districts of the State.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has in a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik received recently reiterated that the request for waiver of Central forces deployment charges cannot be considered.
In his letter sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 10, the Chief had argued that the State deserves waiver of charges as the Maoist menace is a Pan-India phenomenon and not exclusive to any particular State and all efforts made to eliminate the menace should be treated with a national perspective.
While the Prime Minister’s Office is yet to respond to the CM’s letter, Singh’s outright rejection has surprised the State Government, said a senior official of the Home Department.
Singh has stated all States barring the special category ones would have to bear expenses towards CAMF deployment. Special Category States like North East States, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are required to bear only 10 per cent of such charges, he mentioned in the letter.
As the Central Government is incurring huge expenditure on deployment of CAPFs in the States as compared to deployment charges borne by the State Governments, it is not feasible to waive the charges pending on the States, pointed out the Home Minister.
Every year the Home Ministry is sending bills to the State Governmet for payment of dues but as the State expects a waiver each time the amount of dues has only increased.
By December 2013, the bill was of Rs1096 crore and it rose to Rs1450 crore in December 2014. It is expected that the bill would exceed Rs1600 crore mark by December 2015.
There are 17 CMPF battalions now deployed in 18 districts and still the State Government is asking for two more battalions for deployment in border areas of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
Chhattisgarh is now having 45 CRPF battalions and will be getting 11 more battalions of Central forces, said sources.