Bhubaneswar: Faced with threat from red
rebels to several hydel projects and industrial units, Orissa
government has decided to raise Orissa Industrial Security
Force (OISF) on the line of CISF.
Official sources said today the decision was taken in
the wake of employees of eight hydel projects expressing fear
over Maoist threat to them as well as the projects.
The employees of hydro-power generation stations have
reportedly informed the government about their insecurity as
Maoists virtually ruled the roost in tribal-dominated
districts.
"We require as much as Rs 34 crore to set up OISF and
an annual expenditure of Rs 14.65 crore to raise the
battalion", a senior home department official said adding most
of the hydel projects were located in Maoist-infested
districts.
The projects at Balimela, Machhkund, Rengali, Kolab,
Indravati and other places were located in undivided Koraput,
Sambalpur and other districts where the Naxalites were thought
to be active.
"The government was planning to raise OISF battalion
with at least 1,000 personnel and train them on CISF mode",
and would likely approach the CISF authorities to train the
personnel.
In the wake of recent Maoist attack on Nalco bauxite
mines at Damonjodi, the government had no alternative than
making special provision of industrial security to create
peaceful industrial climate in the state.
Attack on Essar`s pipeline in Malkangiri by Maoists
was another instance of Maoist violence on industrial units.
Besides, the Maoists also had their influence in
Kalinga Nagar industrial complex, considered the steel hub
of the state at Duburi, the official added.
"The Maoists also set up their networks in most of the
industrial belts of Jharsuguda, Sundergarh, Angul, Dhenkanal
and Jagatsinghpur districts to foil state`s industrial
activity", a senior police officer said.
Bureau Report
