The finance ministry may give its go-ahead to the home ministry’s ambitious National Intelligence Grid (Natgrid) proposal. The project seeks to create a centralised database for sharing of information by security and law enforcement agencies to combat terror threats within and outside the country.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is likely to consider the project next week. Last year, it had turned down the proposal due to objections raised by other ministries, but later gave its in-principle approval.
Recently, the government had extended the service of Natgrid Chief Executive Officer Raghu Raman, an ex-army officer, for six months up to November, signalling the project would be hastened. “The concerns of the finance ministry have been addressed. They (home ministry) are not asking for anything more than what is already provided. The concern was that would they be able to access my database without me knowing it,” a government official told Business Standard.
The finance and the defence ministries had both raised concerns, fearing it would allow the home ministry uninterrupted access to all the information under their jurisdiction. At present, government agencies seek information from each other, which leads to delays. Natgrid is expected to get access to 21 categories of data sources, such as railway and air travel, income tax, bank account details, credit card transactions, visa and immigration records. Access to the combined data is proposed to be given to 11 agencies, including various central intelligence agencies, the Research & Analysis Wing, and the National Security Council.
The official said Natgrid is more of a technical solution and not an intelligence agency. Its purpose was to provide a structure for agencies seeking information and providing information. “It will allow easier and faster access to information from multiple agencies. The entire process will be facilitated through an automated process,” added the official. Earlier this week, home minister P Chidambaram, who envisaged the project after the November 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai, said there was no block in setting up Natgrid, and the work would start when the CCS gave its nod.
