Elite NSG hub out of Bengal

The search for land to set up a regional NSG hub started in the aftermath of 26/11 terrorist attack on Mumbai. Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had then suggested that a NSG hub should be establish in each of the states of West Bengal,Maharashtra,Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu,which have extensive an coastal borders.

Post 26/11,it was felt that commandos should be deployed at strategic locations in the country to reduce their ‘strike time’ for conducting “swift” anti-terror and counter-hijack operations.

In the last two years,two NSG director generals — J K Dutt and N P S Aulakh — visited the state for the same purpose.

The state government had shown them plots at Panagarh,Barrackpore,Dankuni,Kaikhali and Jagadishpur in Rajarhat,but none of the sites satisfied the NSG teams. Earlier,the elite security force had sought 600 acres to set up the regional centre,which would house an extensive training facilities and a shooting range. But later,the NSG reduced their requirement to 300 acres.

“We were ready to offer land at the rate of Rs 18 lakh per acre,but the Centre did not accept our offer,” a senior state government official said.

Sources said the state government retracted from its earlier stand of giving the land in Rajarhat as price of the land had become an issue. There was also the problem of water-logging in some parts of the earlier proposed site. At present,a small contingent of NSG are positioned at Badu in North 24-Parganas. But sources said that disappointed by the turn of events,the Centre is planning to move it to another state as well.