New Delhi, Aug 17 - Home Minister P. Chidambaram Monday expressed regret that the state governments had not done enough to strengthen the police force and improve intelligence-sharing, which he said were key to fight the security challenges India faces.

'We had circulated a questionnaire to the state governments requesting them to indicate the present status under a number of heads and on a number of issues. I regret to point out that the response from the states is far from satisfactory,' Chidambaram said in his address to the internal security conference attended by chief ministers here.

The home minister said the police reforms 'have not received the attention they deserve' despite Supreme Court directions in that regard.

'I regret to point out that many state governments have not yet constituted the Police Establishment Board. Nor have they fully complied with the other directions,' Chidambaram said.

The situation of vacant posts in police is 'quite alarming', he added.

The home minister said that the setting up of the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) and (state-level)-MACs had made intelligence-sharing better but 'there is scope for more improvement'.