Karnataka budget: Stress on internal security, modernization sidelined

BENGALURU: With an increase of 10 per cent in the budgetary allocation for the home department, a major push has been given to addressing major needs in the state's law and order situation. The budget allocation for the sector may have increased from Rs. 3,941crores to Rs. 4,372 crores to address issues like terrorism, women's safety and surveillance, there is limited scope for police modernization and investment in futuristic technology. Among the major projects announced, a sum of Rs.50 crores has been allocated for a central command centre to coordinate anti-terror activities in the state. The ongoing surveillance improvement program in the city, following the Church Street blast case, is expected to get a boost with the government announcing Rs.8 crores for the installation of surveillance cameras. Also to improve the investigations in to the crime against women cases, 6 special units with 15 personnel, headed by an SP rank officer will be established. In other good news for Bengaluru, the B-TRAC project for finding a permanent solution to the city's traffic woes has been extended for three more years. However, no specific amount has been earmarked for the project. Projects similar to B-TRAC will also be launched in Belgavi (Bel-trac), and Hubli-Dharwad (H-trac) for planning traffic infrastructure developments in the districts. For a state not affected by naxalism, the government's sanction to raise three more units of anti-naxal squads is an odd decision, when in reality, more efforts and money should be expended toward improving communication, mobility and equipment that the state police require. Furthermore, except for a decision to reconstitute the state FSL unit, no real investments have been announced in improving scientific investigations. The CM also announced the establishment of a new jail in the outskirts of Bengaluru to solve the problem of overcrowding in the city's central jail. _TOI