Government has also received information that there have been some instances where Pak/PoK based terrorist outfits were infiltrating into India using the Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Nepal borders, Minister of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal informed the Rajya Sabha.

"Pak-based terrorist groups, particularly LeT, have been exploring possibilities of induction of manpower and terrorist hardware through sea route," he said.

The government has taken appropriate measures to strengthen border management which includes the deployment of border guarding forces, electronic surveillance equipment, border fencing, establishment of border out posts, coordinated intelligence work by lead intelligence agencies, he said.

In a written reply, Jaiswal said the surveillance of Coast Guard along the Indian coastline extending up to the extremity of the Exclusive Economic Zone acts as a deterrent for terrorists.

Besides, he said under the Coastal Security Scheme, assistance has been given to the coastal states and Union Territories to strengthen infrastructure for patrolling and surveillance of coastal areas by setting up police stations, check posts and outposts and to equip the coastal police stations with vehicles and boats for mobility on the coast and in the close coastal waters.

He also informed the House that there is no proposal for any change in the charter of Central Paramilitary Forces deployed for border guarding and internal security/counter insurgency duties in various parts of the country.

To a question on the curtailment of deployment of paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir, Jaiswal said there have been demands from various sources about reduction of the level of security force deployment in view of the overall improvement in the security environment.

"The approach of the government is to ensure that the deployment of security forces is related to the scale of problems and requirements on the ground," he said. A committee has been constituted under the Defence Secretary to examine the overall situation and security forces deployment.

The aforesaid Committee would also conduct a parallel exercise to review the application of the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act of 1990 to different areas of the state, Jaiswal said.

The state government has also been asked to appoint a Nodal Officer to survey the properties still being occupied by security forces, he said adding that such officer would undertake an exercise to see how many of these properties could be restored to their owners or, in lieu, proper compensation provided.

Jaiswal also informed the Rajya Sabha that 148 incidents of were reported during the last six months (October 2006 to March 2007) as compared to 405 during the preceding six months (April 2006 to Sept 2006).

To a question whether government is considering a proposal to revive the National ID Card project, Minister of state for Home Manikrao H Gavit said the government proposes to issue Multi-Purpose National Identity (Smart) Card to the citizens of the country.

The project envisages providing unique National Identity Number to each person in the National Population Register, he said.

However, he said keeping in view of the complexities involved, both of the Processes and technology, a pilot project has been under implementation on an experimental basis covering a population of 30.95 lakhs in the selected areas in 12 states and one UT.

These Cards will be issued to the citizens of age 18 years and above under the pilot project, he said.