ONGC to raise security personnel to counter extremists

GUWAHATI: For securing the vital installations which have been the soft targets of extremist attacks, ONGC in Assam is in the process of recruiting around 1,148 security personnel. For raising this dedicated battalion, ONGC has to incur around Rs 86 crore. Once raised, these personnel will come under the permanent pay roll of the company.

Already for manning company's security operations in Assam, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is present. For maintaining the 1,285 CISF personnel, the company spends around Rs 50 crore annually. The Assam government has sanctioned the police battalion during the year 2008-09. ONGC will train, accommodate and deploy the personnel.

A source in ONGC said that accommodation for the battalion is being created. "Training has started in batches. This is provided at Dergaon police training centre." This project has received the nod of the state Cabinet. An MoU between the government and the ONGC authorities was signed on February 28, 2008.