New Delhi, Oct 30 Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram on Friday said that under the Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF) scheme, Rs.201.06 crore was released to the States in October against the total allocation of Rs.1187.50 crore for 2009-10.

While, Chidambaram informed that the Centre-State Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) Project has been signed by 34 States and Union Territories and only one State is yet to sign the MoU.

The report also said that during the month, the Cabinet also approved the National Policy on Disaster Management. It also approved a proposal to strengthen Fire and Emergency services in the country under a Plan Scheme with an outlay of Rs 200 crore during the Eleventh Plan period.

Chidambaram also informed about the proposal made at the Chief Ministers' Conference, and said that the Ministry has approved a scheme for strengthening of special branches in the State with a total outlay of Rs 150 crore.

The State Governments will implement the scheme with technical and financial support from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the report said.

The report also said that Raghu Raman was appointed during the month as the Chief Executive Officer to implement the National Intelligence Grid (Natgrid) project.

Raman has agreed to accept this assignment until May 2011, when the project is expected to be fully implemented. (ANI)