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| Locations of NDRF Batalions in India Photo Credit Wikimedia Commons by Kumarrakajee |
Previous Dhumal Govt. Demanded Rs 15 Crore as Land Cost
The
state of Himachal Pradesh is likely to lose the prestigious project due to carelessness and the lackluster attitude of the State Governments.
Both
the previous and the present governments of Himachal failed in their
responsibility to provide land to the Battalion of National Disaster Response
Force or NDRF to be brought up through the Indo Tibetan Border Police or ITBP.
The
central govt. headed by previous UPA under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had
proposed to bring the aforesaid battalion in Kangra district. The then BJP
Govt. of the state headed by Prem Kumar Dhumal decided to bring up the
battalion in Nurpur region of Kangra District.
The
ITBP had selected about 17 hectare of land in Kopra village and the additional
23 hectares of the adjoining land in Nurur Sub- division of Kangra district to
set up the aforesaid battalion.
The
then state govt of BJP initiated the process to acquire the land under the land
acquisition act of 1894 and on 31st August 2012. The land
acquisition award of Rs 12.67 Crore for the land in the village and Rs 2.36
Crore for the adjoining forest land was approved by the govt.
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NDRF shifting school children during cyclone
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Then
the ITBP was asked to deposit Rs 15.03 Crore with the state Govt of Himachal
Pradesh, so that the required land may be acquired for the NDRF battalion. Now the ITBP is not interested in the project
due to the costly land being provided to it by the State Government. The ITBP even declined to respond to the
proposal of the HP Govt. and have almost rejected the acquisition of the land
for setting up of the project and bringing up the battalion owing to the high
cost of the land.
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| NDRF Rescue Operation during Kosi Flood Bihar Photo Credit Wikimedia Commons by Kumarrakajee |
The
previous BJP Govt. made no serious efforts to set up the battalion sanctioned
by the then UPA Govt. in New Delhi for Nurpur region. Adding fuel to fire the
present NDA government headed by the firebrand leader and the present Prime
Minister Narinder Modi, too is following the lines of BJP by depriving the state
of the battalion.
The
Punjab Govt. had offered the land for free in Ladowal area to the ITBP for
bringing up the NDRF battalion and the ITBP is likely to set up the battalion
there.
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| NDRF personnel undergoing Helislithering TrainingPhoto Credit Wikimedia Commons by Kumarrakajee |
Ramdev Given a Huge Chunk of Land for Rupee One by Dhumal
It is worthwhile to mention
that the previous BJP government gave 96.5 bighas of prime land valued around
Rs.35-40 crore at Sadhupul near the tourist place Chail to Baba Ramdev, the
yoga guru and his Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust for a one-time lease payment of Rs.17
lakh for 99 years for a token annual fee of Rupee One. One bigh is equal to 2
acres.
Instead of making an effort
to establish the NDRF in Himachal Pradesh the Congress Government in the state
became elated to cancel the lease of Baba Ramdev.
The Facts
The
ITBP has selected 17 hectare plot in Kopra village in Kangra district for
bringing up the NDRF battalion.
The
atate gove accorded approval to the land acquisition award amounting to 12.67
Crore on 13 August 2012.
Besides
an award of 2.36 Crore was also decided for the forestland acquired for the
project.
The
state Govt. had written to the ITBP to deposit the said amount with the Govt.
so that the required land could be transferred to it for bringing up the NDRF
battalion. But the high cost of the land has deterred the ITBP to respond
positively.
About NDRF
NDRF is a disaster response agency was constituted in 2005 under Disaster
Management Act. The Delhi based National
Disaster Management Authority or NDMA was created established in 2009 by the Union
Home Ministry.
At
present the NDRF consists of 10 battalions, three each from BSF, CRPF, and two
each from ITBP and CISF. These battalions located in different disaster prone
areas of India consist of 1,149 personnel each. Each battalion has 18 self
contained specialist search and rescue teams consisting of 45 personnel each.
Another two sanctioned battalions from SSB are also coming up.
The Force is specialized in the management of natural or and man-made
disasters and functions at state and central level under the aegis of NDMA. Out of 10 battalions
the four battalions are being trained to combat radio-logical, nuclear, biological and chemical disasters or the devastation caused by earthquakes.
The NDRF is emerging to become the most reliable, vibrant and
viable multi-disciplinary force equipped with high-tech gadgets and skills.
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