Proximity to Delhi impacts Haryana security scene: Hooda

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda Wednesday sought extension of the mega-city policing scheme to Gurgaon and Faridabad towns, adding that the state's security environment was impacted by its proximity to the national capital.

The centrally-funded scheme at present covers seven cities - Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.

"The security environment in Haryana is largely impacted by the state's proximity to Delhi. Seven out of 21 districts of Haryana fall within the NCR (national capital region)," Hooda said, addressing the the chief minister's meet on internal security here.

"There has been rapid economic growth in areas adjoining Delhi. Gurgaon and Faridabad have unbroken urban continuity with the NCR and cannot be isolated from Delhi, when it comes to law and order and security matters," he said.

"The mega city policing scheme should be extended to cover Gurgaon and Faridabad. Haryana is a buffer for safety and security of Delhi and as such Haryana Police have to remain alert and active to tackle the problems connected with the NCR," Hooda said.

He demanded that Gurgaon and Faridabad should be "given central assistance at par with mega cities, so as to upgrade the police force and related infrastructure".

While supporting the central government's move for setting up the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Hooda said that all states should unanimously support it in a national effort to defeat terrorism.

Hooda asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to sanction special financial package for Haryana Police to meet the challenges of policing in the districts falling under the NCR.