NatGrid gets government nod

Jun7,2011 

NEW DELHI: Home Minister P Chidambaram’s pet project to counter terrorism, money laundering and related crimes - the National Intelligence Grid (NatGrid) - took wings on Monday with the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) giving nod to begin its initial phase.

The next two phases - phase 2 and 3 - of the ambitious project, final cost of which could be beyond Rs 4,000 crore or even more, would have to go again for the CCS clearance once Home Ministry clarifies the remaining queries, sources said. “On the direction of the CCS, a detailed briefing and presentation about the NatGrid project along with safeguards and oversight mechanisms was given by the MHA to the members of the CCS. The CCS has given in principle approval for the project and has instructed the MHA to proceed accordingly,” a government statement said.

The project’s initial phase got clearance after being vetted by a committee of secretaries several times and making rounds of key ministries like Finance and Defence for clarification during the last three months. “There were financial complications besides queries on procedures, plan, non-plan and implementation,” sources said.