BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: All the talk of enhancing coastal security after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack is just that -- talk.
Although funds are approved, construction of new buildings for three Coastal police stations is yet to be completed, the performance budget of the Goa police department for 2009-10, revealed.
The Union home ministry had approved three police stations under the coastal security plan for which Rs 74.10-lakh was sanctioned. The entire amount is to be spent by 2009-10 and Rs 37.05 lakhs was released as first installment.
In the case of the new building for a coastal police station at Siolim, the PWD revised the original estimate of Rs 26.41 lakhs to Rs 51. 46 lakh. This has brought the project to a standstill, as the government now has to re-sanction the budget.
“As on date, 70% works are completed. Construction of a jetty, the design of which has been approved and estimates under preparation, is also proposed at Siolim,” the report said.
Meanwhile at Betul, the report cites the hurdles posed by the Coastal Regulation Zone rules as the reason for the delay. However, this building is exempt from the CRZ rules as recommended by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, and GCZMA conveyed its No Objection to take up the project. PWD has already floated tenders, which will be opened on July 3.
While the renovation of the old structure for the Harbour coastal police station was approved, it has been delayed because the site is on hilly area for which another inspection was conducted. Following a joint inspection, the renovation was again given a go-ahead.
Meanwhile, realizing the need to upgrade and modernize the force, Goa police spent Rs 94.76-lakh for purchase of weapons and equipment in 2008-09. MHA had approved the plan size for Goa Police to the tune of Rs 2.67 crore, with 75% and 25% share for the central and state governments respectively.
Meanwhile, the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) submitted that total foreigners residing on long-term visa were 3,644, which included foreigners possessing visas like entry visa, student visa, employment visa, business visa, besides PIO card holders.
Showcasing its achievement in the Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC), the performance report mentions that during 2008-09 ANC booked 16 drug cases with 100% detection.
Eleven Indians and nine foreigners were arrested and drugs worth approximately Rs 86.05 lakh were seized.
The police force also boasted of a 65 per-cent crime detection rate in 2008-09, with 2,712 cases booked and 1,788 of them detected.
