KalingaTimes Correspondent
Bhubaneswar, Jan 22: The Centre on Tuesday agreed to Orissa government's request to retain all the seven battalions of Central Reserve Police Force in violence-hit Kandhamal district of the State.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil gave the nod when Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met him and made the request in New Delhi.

Patil also assured to provided maximum possible financial and manpower support to the State government to strengthen the State's internal security system.

Patnaik demanded that under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme, more districts may be included for effective control of naxal activities in the State and allocation of funds may be raised from Rs
9 crore to Rs 15 crore with a special focus on Malkangiri and Rayagada districts.

Patnaik also requested for an early release of 1.87 lakh tonnes of foodgrains for Orissa for undertaking relief employment in the districts that were affected by floods.

The Home Minister agreed to release cash in lieu of foodgrains to help the State government undertake relief employment work in the affected districts, according to an official release.

On Patnaik's request, Patil also agreed to sanction five more India Reserve Battalions for the State.

Raising of these battalions will not only enable the State government to combat naxal and extremist activities effectively but also provide substantial employment opportunity to the local youth, Patnaik said.

The Chief Minister further underlined the need for increase in allocation under the Police Modernisation scheme for Orissa from Rs 26.5 crore to Rs 60 crore, and a special grant of Rs 30 crore for the Training Resource Centre (TRC) with Special Operations Group (SOG) under construction at Chandaka near Bhubaneswar.

Patil agreed to enhance the allocation appropriately, the State government said in the release.