Asserting that the state government is firmly determined to exterminate terrorism in the state,state Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala told the Gujarat Assembly on Tuesday that the budgetary allocation for the Home Department for 2009-10 has been raised by 69.38 per cent from the previous years,that is,from Rs 204.65 crore to Rs 346.65 crore. During his speech on Modified Budget Estimates for 2009-10,Vala said a decision has been taken to set up 13 bomb disposal squads at the district and commissionerate headquarters at a cost of Rs 8.07 crore to strengthen the security infrastructure. He also informed that as many as 11 women police stations would also be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 5.52 crore during the current financial year. Vala also told the House that Rs 96 crore has been allotted for police modernisation including purchase of latest security equipment. Another sum of Rs 62 crore has been set aside for setting up two additional battalions of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) one at Bhuj and another at Jamnagar. The state government,Vala said,has allocated Rs 24.94 crore for the construction of new jails as well as modernisation of the existing ones. As for meeting housing requirements,the minister said the state government has made a provision of Rs 26 crore for construction of quarters for policemen and jawans of the SRPF during the current year. The minister also said that since coastal security has assumed vital importance post 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai,the state government had submitted a coastal security plan of Rs 392.47 crore to the Central government. However,the Centre has so far released only Rs 58.42 crore,which is too inadequate,Vala said. Budgetary allocation* Rs 346.65 crore allocated for internal security* Rs 8.07 crore for 13 bomb disposal squads* Rs 5.52 crore for 11 women police stations* Rs 96 crore for modernisation of state police force* Rs 62 crore for 2 more battalion of SRPF* Rs 24.94 crore for new jails
