Govt brings four more Naxal-hit districts under IAP

The decision to bring two districts of Bihar -- Sitamarhi and West Champaran -- and two districts of Madhya Pradesh -- Chhindwara and Singrauli, was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet here today.

With the addition of these four, the total number of districts under the IAP has gone up to 82. The government has also enhanced the fund allocation for IAP from Rs 2,340 crore to Rs 2,460 crore.

Under IAP, the government sanctioned Rs 25 crore in 2010-11 and Rs 30 crore in 2011-12 to each of these districts through which 63,416 projects were set up and 26,593 projects completed, incurring an expenditure of Rs 1,391 crore till 2011.

The money for a project is placed at the disposal of a committee headed by the district collector to oversee its implementation.

Projects under IAP scheme include those for providing drinking water, sanitation and electricity facilities. They together account for nearly 30 per cent of the projects. Setting up of school infrastructure accounts 16 per cent and Anganwadi centres 13.5 per cent.

Naxal violence has been reported in areas falling under 270 police stations in 64 districts in eight states.

The level of violence in Left wing extremism-affected states is still high with 447 civilians and 142 security personnel killed in 2011.