Imphal, May 21 2009: State government will spend Rs 18.79 crores per year in the creation of 1600 posts of the commandos in the state police department, approved by the state Cabinet in its sitting held Tuesday, was amidst the worried of the state finance department as it will involve heavy non-plan incurring expenditure.

The decision was against the worried of the state finance department as it will amount to involves heavy non-plan recurring expenditure as the fund was not taken into account in the budget estimate (BE) 2009-10 and there is no clear cut count of reimbursement from the under Security Related Expenditure (SRE).

State government has no sanctioned posts of commandos and police department is utilizing the service of 1600 police officers/men by withdrawing from the authorized strength of district police/MR/IRB units as commandos in four valley districts.

Government approved the creation of the 1600 posts of commandos in police department on July 8, 2008 considering the immediate required meeting the prevailing law and order situation in the state.

The created posts include eight posts of DSP(GO), 12 posts of inspector of police.

70 posts of sub-inspector, 80 head constables and 1390 posts of police constables.

The said posts will be distributed to in the four valley districts, Imphal west (450), Imphal east (360), Bishnupur (430) and Thoubal (360). While creating the posts, state government will spend Rs 18,78,95,540 per year as worked out by the state administrative department which state finance department expressed concern as it will implies heavy non-plan recurring expenditure from the state exchequer.

Finance department while consulted with the finance department before placing the proposal for Cabinet approval by the state home department.

The department opinion that the financial implication for the creation of the 1600 commandos was not taken into account in BE 2009-10 and if expenditure is not reimbursable under SRE, it will involves heavy non-plan recurring expenditure, sources said.

Even though state finance department suggested to consult with the department of personnel before placing the proposal, home department could not done it as both the commissioner and the link commissioner were not available in their office, the source said.

The need for creation of the posts felt to the police department as police department is unable to maintain police strength in the police stations in the districts due to the withdrawal of manpower which created a serious shortage of police manpower, particularly in the hill districts.

The shortage also reduced the effectiveness of the state police force leading to frequent problems which get complicated over a period of time.

Apart from this, even though headquarters of the 5th, 6th and 8th MR are located in Tamenglong, Ukhrul and Chandel districts headquarters, most of the manpower is deployed in the valley districts.

The district SPs in the hill districts have practicaaly no armed police manpower at their disposal.

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