Centre gives ‘in principle’ approval for NSG hub in Gujarat

The central government has given ‘in principle’ approval for setting up of a National Security Guard(NSG) regional hub in Gujarat, subject to the Government of Gujarat providing land free of cost, at the location found suitable by the NSG, said central minister of state in the ministry of Home affairs Shri Jitendra Singh in Lok Sabha last week replying to the question asked by Gujarat BJP MP Darshna Jardosh.

The minister in his reply added that the Government has established four Regional Hubs of National Security Guard (NSG) at Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai that have been operationalised on 30th June/1st July 2009 and no new hubs are under establishment(at present).

It should be mentioned here that after the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008, the Centre took a decision to set up regional hubs of NSG in different parts of the country. CM Narendra Modi raised this issue in the CMs’ conference on internal security chaired by PM Manmohan Singh in February 2009. At that time, the state was assured the request would be considered. However even after two and half years, nothing has moved on the ground. Central ministry has conveyed Gujarat government about its ‘in-principle’ approval. But the answer of the minister in Lok Sabha clearly indicates that at this juncture no new hubs are under establishment.

If things move forward, NSG may choose some land in proximity to the airport in Ahmedabad for quicker reach. Gujarat is border state with more than 1600 km long coast that has important industrial, power and port establishments.