The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has developed into an excellent force in the past decade or so and it will be further strengthened to better serve the public in times of disaster, according to Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

He was speaking at a meeting at Kondapavuluru in Gannavaram mandal of Krishna district on Monday after a foundation stone was laid for the buildings of the NDRF. The NDRF battalion will be stationed there. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu also participated in the function.

Rajnath Singh said the NDRF had won accolades from the public not only in India but abroad as well with its excellent services. "It is a very efficient, effective and responsive force. Still, there is scope for improvement and its infrastructure will be further strengthened to make it a more pro-active and pre-emptive force in times of disaster," he said.

He thanked the Chief Minister for sanctioning 50 acres of land for the NDRF buildings and said the demands voiced by the Chief Minister, such as a centre for training the Greyhounds, the crack anti-extremist force, would be favourably considered and prompt action taken on them.

The Chief Minister also sought stationing a team of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) at Visakhapatnam on a 60-acre site and also setting up a National Academy of Prisons at Rajahmundry.

Further, he said, there were still some unresolved issues in the implementation of the AP Bifurcation Act, 2014, causing some avoidable friction between the two Telugu states and the Home Minister should take the lead in resolving them.

He thanked the Home Minister for his role in helping the state in the construction of the mega Polavaram irrigation project on the Godavari in West Godavari district.

sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

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