Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday told the State Assembly that no Maoist-related violence was reported from the districts of Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj, Deogarh, Nayagarh and Sundergarh police districts since 2011 and informed that the Union Government had provided an estimated Rs 871 crore to deal with the Maoists and modernisation of police during last nine years.
During Question Hour in reply to a question of Congress member Prafulla Majhi, the Chief Minister said the State Government had been continuously focusing on upgradation of capacity building of security forces and security infrastructure in the affected areas, strategic deployment of security forces, effective anti-Maoist operations with greater synergy with other affected neighbouring States and Central Armed Police Forces and improvement in communication and connectivity in rural areas to deal with the problem.
Chief Minister said five districts of the State, including Malkangiri, Rayagada, Koraput and Gajapati, were affected by Maoist activities in 2000 but at present parts of 19 districts such as Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Ganjam, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Jajpur, Kandhamal, Dhenkanal, Narayagarh, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bolangir, Rourkela Police district and Baragarh were affected by the Maoists activities in varying intensities.
On Central assistance, Patnaik said the Union Government has provided 17 battalions of Central Armed Police Forces to the State in phases from 2001 to 2013 to deal with the Maoist menace.
He said that the Central Government had provided Rs 17, 976 lakh from 2005-06 to 2013-14 under Security Related Expenditure Scheme, Rs 9,302 lakh under Special Infrastructure Scheme from 2008-09 to 2013-14, Rs 11,200 lakh under scheme for construction and strengthening of fortified police stations from 2010-11 to 2013-14, Rs 877 lakh under counter insurgency and anti-terrorist scheme from 2009-10 to 2013-14 and Rs 60 crore under modernisation of police force for construction of police stations and outposts in the affected districts.
This apart, the Union Government has also allocated Rs 417 crore to the State under the scheme of modernisation of police force from 2001 to 2013-14 for purchase of sophisticated weapons, vehicles and equipment and development of infrastructure. Out of this, 96.73 per cent of the funds have been utilised, Patnaik revealed.
The Chief Minister said the Central assistance was properly and optimally used for which the Union Government has released additional assistance of Rs 8.93 crore in 2013-14 as a better performing State.