Uttar Pradesh has put up a demand of Rs 6500 crore for modernization of the police besides calling to improve road network during the 20th meeting of The Central Zonal council here on Monday. The meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also resolved to end the problems of the concerned state over the issues like infrastructure development, left wing extremism, hike in the central share , police modernisation and increase in road networks etc.
Besides, it was also demanded to review the existing Acts on Forest and Environment as they were creating a road-blockade on path to development. The meeting resolved to have more interaction between the states and to implement the Food Security Act from April next year. The meeting was held after a gap of around 5 years.
Rajnath Singh in his concluding speech admitted that more than 50 per cent of the issues and agenda of the meeting have been solved through interaction and claimed that the meeting was successful. The meeting was attended by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Prithviraj Chauhan, Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh, Utarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat and host Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav along with the senior officials of the respective states.
State Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan, while briefing the media persons soon after the meeting here on Monday evening claimed that the State government has submitted a memorandum to the tune of Rs 6500 crores for police modernization in next three years which includes appointment of more policemen, infrastructure and purchase of modern arms and gadgets. ‘ All the four states CMs also demanded more roads in their state particularly in naxalite infested Chhattisgarh to counter the backwardness,’ Ranjan said.
The Union Home minister has assured to talk with the Union surface transport ministry on the issue. UP and Uttarakhand CMs also resolved to solve their asset related dispute and set up a Chief Secretary level committee. Both the states also agreed to set up a joint Hydro-power project in Uttarakhand. Ranjan said that Chhattisgarh CM demanded that the Central -state share in all the developmental works should be in the ratio of 90:10. The Chhattisgarh CM also demanded that the Centre should bear all the expense of the Central forces deployed in the naxalite infested districts as presently the state government has to bear all the expense. UP also demanded change in the ratio of the financing system by the Central government.
All the four CMs also demanded amendment in the Forest and environment law to give relaxation in the stringent forest law which was obstructing the development of infrastructure in the state. It was also demanded to make amendments in the Right to Education Act, particularly the system under which all students should be passed to next class without examination till class 8th. They demanded that some provisions of judging the merit should be introduced in RTE. Besides, all the CMs assured better coordination between the intelligence agencies to cope with naxalism and on the day to day law and order situation.
The states also demanded modernization of jails while stressed the need for commencing exams in the primary sections to improve the education system. Ranjan said UP also demanded allotment of fertilizers in full quantity to avoid any crisis.S K Das , Secretary of the Central Zonal Council, said that there is a good response from all the four states during the meeting and hoped that another meeting could be held in UP this year. Chhattisgarh would be the host for 2016. Das said that the Action Taken Report(ATR) on 22 recommendations in the last meeting held in 2014, most of them have been implemented.