New Delhi, Dec.8 (ANI): The Government has proposed to procure weapons on behalf of States in an endeavour to quicken procurement process.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Mullappallay Ramachandran in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday stated: “The Government proposes to procure weapons on behalf of States in a bid to quicken procurement process. Most of the requirement of weaponry of the State Governments is being met through various Ordnance Factories under Ordnance Factory Board. Demand of all States & Union territories is being called for annually, consolidated and discussed with Ordnance Factory Board in the annual Target Fixation Meeting.”

“The quantity agreed to are being allocated to State Governments from Ordnance Factory Board by the Ministry of Home Affairs. For the next financial year 2010-11, Target Fixation Meeting with OFB has been held on 13.11.2009 at Ammunition Factory, Khadki and stores targeted in the meeting will be issued by OFB in 2010-11 to State Police forces,” it further added.

The minister in his reply informed that in the recent Chief Minister Conference held in New Delhi, various suggestions had been made, which included procurement of various weapons required by the States over and above the OFB route should also be facilitated by the Ministry of Home Affairs so as to quicken the process of procurement.

“The requirement of weaponry of the State Police Forces which are not in the production range of Ordnance Factory Board is facilitated by the Central Govt. by issue of import permission, Custom Duty Exemption Certificate, No Objection Certificate for import licence, supplying relevant technical information such as Qualitative Requirements, and to the extent feasible clubbing the requirement of the State Governments to any of the ongoing procurement process by the Central Para Military Forces,” Ramachandran informed in his written reply. (ANI)