Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police has failed to utilise funds earmarked for modernization of the force in recent years, as per a report by Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD).
Every year, the force receives grants from both the state and central government to upgrade its infrastructure and capacity to meet emerging challenges in internal security.
“The focus of the scheme is on strengthening of the police infrastructure by way of construction of secure and people friendly Police Stations, Police Outposts, Police Housing, Improved Mobility, Modern Weaponry, Computerization, Communication Equipment, Modern Traffic Control Equipment, etc,” stated the report.
As per the report, the force got Rs 68.91 crore for modernisation out of the total Rs 3,559.51 crore earmarked for the police force in the state’s annual budget for the year 2018-19. However, the BPRD report reveals that Odisha Police managed to spend only Rs 41.49 crore out of the total budget during 2018-19, while the rest is still unspent.
Similarly, Odisha police received Rs 35.10 crore as modernisation grant from the central government and Rs 23.40 from the state government during the financial year 2018-19.
The force could only spend Rs 14.89 crore out of the combined Rs 58.50 crore it received as grant in the period.
On similar lines, the force received Rs 42.45 crore from the central government and Rs 28.3 crore from the state government as modernisation grant during 2019-20 financial year. As per the report, the force police spent a meager Rs 6.8 crore out of the total Rs 70.75 grant it received.
PNN
