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Home Minister P. Chidambaram has assured that Union Cabinet will approve the proposal put forward by India-Tibetan Border Police for setting up 15 new battalions, a jungle warfare school as well as medical institute in Leh.
"We are considering a restructuring plan. Under this plan the home ministry would ensure speedy and early clearance for 15 new battalions, a counter-insurgency and jungle warfare school, a high-altitude medical institute, and three recruit training centres," Chidambaram said at the 48th raising day of the ITBP.
"The plan includes measures to strengthen border posts," he added.
He also mentioned that the ITBPB will also be provided with advanced communication systems, surveillance equipment, water crafts, specialized vehicles and modern weaponry.
The ITPB officials have mentioned that an all-inclusive proposal has been submitted to the home ministry. ITPB has been asked for deploying four if its battalion in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh for fighting the Maoists.
"No other paramilitary force has a jungle warfare school or a high-altitude medical institute so far. We have demanded this seeing our operational requirements," said a senior official of ITBP.
Chidambaram also has mentioned the need for strengthening the India-China border as well as purchasing modern weaponry and specialised vehicles for the border troopers.
"Various bottlenecks in the process of procurement and acquisition of essential items have been an impediment in the modernisation of the paramilitary forces. Therefore, the home ministry has enhanced the delegation of financial powers to its director generals," he said.
The ITBP has 45 battalions and four upgraded specialist battalions. The force is deployed along the India-China border.
