Odisha demands Waiver of Rs 1450 Cr Bill for Central Forces

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik demands waiver of Rs. 1,450 Cr towards deployment of central forces in the state. In a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief Minister Naveen Patinaik said the Centre and State need to work together to fight left wing extremism – Naxal, Maoists in the state, by pooling their resources together as well.

Earlier, the Union Minister asked the state government to pay the bill of Rs 1450.29 crore towards the deployment charges of CRPF/RAF detachment upto September 30 last year in the state. The state government in its response urged the centre to waive the charges of forces deployment.  The state government  said that it has also been spending funds on training and deployment of forces in Moist-hit areas in the state. And, the state has been continuing anti-naxal operations in the state.

However, the Home Minister declined that to waive the deployment charges in a letter sent the state government on Jan 16. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged the minister to consider the waiver in the interest of the state as its one of the Maoist-hit states in the country and it needs the deployment of central forces for internal security in the state.