‘Top priority to security in coast’
CM inaugurates police commissionerate building in Mangalore
The Karnataka State has a huge coast line (320 kms) after Mumbai in India and there is a need to take high precaution to prevent any untoward incidents, especially terrorism. Hence, the State government is giving top priority to security in coastal region, said Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda.
Speaking after inaugurating the new building of the Mangalore police commissionerate here on Saturday, he said that there is a need for another 31 check posts, 4 coastal security police stations and two helicopters to keep a watch on the coast. “An appeal has already been made to the Centre and we hope for a positive response,” he said.
Lauding the technology available at the new police commissionerate office, the chief minister said that a person sitting in the commissionerate office can monitor the traffic or any incident between Ullal and Surathkal and also the beaches. Asserting that there is no dearth of funds, Gowda assured all help to provide better facilities to the police. He also lauded the efforts of the authorities concerned in completing the new building measuring 21,500 square feet in a record 17 months at a cost of Rs 5.8 crore. It was constructed by Karnataka Police Housing Corporation through Consolidated Construction Consortium Limited (Bangalore).
The police commissionerate was started on January 26, 2010 and the foundation stone for the building was laid on August 23, 2010.
Inspectors to all stations
Speaking on the occasion, Home Minister R Ashok said that Mangalore is unique in State as only Mangalore has a port in the State and so is the responsibility of the police.
He also said that about 200 police personnel are being recruited to strengthen the police force.
Stating that Karnataka tops in maintaining law and order in the nation, he said that the State used to witness around 28 to 30 communal violence incidents earlier, which has now been reduced to 7 or 8 incidents per year.
Houses for cops
Referring to the lack of housing facilities for the police, he said the State has only 40,000 police quarters though there is a need for one lakh houses.
Stating that the State has used an Australian technology that can construct a house in 15 days, he said already such houses have been constructed in Bangalore and the police are living in it.
Steps will be taken to construct such houses in Mangalore too using the same technology, which has been certified by both State and Central agencies.
M’lore in 2030
State Director General of Police Shankar Bidari opined that Mangalore will be equal to Mumbai by the year 2030 and there is a need to make the State a model state in policing.
Felicitation
Two police personnel - T R Puttaswamy and K Rajesh, the recipients of President’s Medal, were felicitated on the occasion. Higher Education Minister Dr V S Acharya, Port and Fisheries Minister Anand Asnotikar, District-in-Charge Minister Krishna J Palemar, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Dy Speaker N Yogish Bhat, ADGP M N Reddy, IGP (Western Range) Pratap Reddy and DC Dr N S Chennappa Gowda among others were present.
Earlier, welcoming the gathering, Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh thanked the chief minister and home minister for providing a ‘gift’ to Mangaloreans in the form of police commissionerate. Mangalore is only the fourth police commissionerate in State after Bangalore, Mysore and Hubli.
DySP office in Bantwal soon
Stressing the need for an officer of the rank of deputy superintendent of police in Bantwal, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said that a DySP office would be opened in Bantwal before March 31, 2012.
