Indian Express 21.05.2010
Civic body seeks separate police station on its premises
Ajay Khape Tags : civic, police station Posted: Fri May 21 2010, 00:48 hrs
Pune: With the number of cases relating to violation of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning (MRTP) Act rising, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has sought a special police station for the civic body that would deal exclusively with PMC cases.“The proposal of a special police station has been submitted to the state home ministry. It will help in resolving complaints regarding violation of MRTP Act and also help initiate strict action against offences related to the civic body,” said PMC additional municipal commissioner M S Devnikar.
It is proposed that the police station should be on the lines of the special police station for power utility where all offences related to power utility are registered and investigated by the dedicated police staff. Devnikar said while the staff for the purpose would be provided by the home ministry, all expenses, including the salaries of the staffers, would be borne by the PMC.
PMC security officer Ramesh Shelar said there is shortage of staff with the security department and it is impossible for the existing staff to look into matters related to security. “The number of civic properties has increased with the expansion in the corporation’s jurisdiction limits. It is not possible for the PMC security to carry out all responsibilities on their own,” he said, adding that the bomb blast at German Bakery has made the civic administration give another look at the security arrangements. The PMC has roped in private security to protect the public establishments, Shelar added.
“If sanctioned, the police station will be situated in the civic headquarters and there will be one chowky at each of the four zonal commissioner office,” said Shelar.
The special police force will also keep a check on activities like encroachment, illegal construction and unlicenced business in the civic jurisdiction, Shelar added. He said the shortage of security staff with the civic body has resulted in an increase in illegal activities, especially encroachments on civic properties.
“The recent survey conducted after the bomb blast has concluded that there are 9,900 encroachments on city roads and around 900 illegal religious structures across the city,” Shelar said.
In a joint meeting of Municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade and city police commissioner Satyapal Singh, it was decided that four civic zonal commissioners and the deputy police commissioner will carry out the drive of anti-encroachment.
