From cops to clerks, Taj city comes clean on graft

Last week, the Agra police pledged to refuse bribes in the dischage of their duties. Can they really change colours? People were intitially cynical.
But the results are showing: Raja ki Mandi, a chaotic traffic point, looked all streamlined Friday.

Said shopkeeper Vishal: "When they pledged against bribe, encroachments on the busy road are fewer, and suddenly law enforcement is easier." He added: "They have placed dividers and traffic is moving comfortably."

In other parts of the city too, the Anna wave is discernible as cops on duty are refusing to be 'entertained' by truckers and encroachers," advocate Rajvir Singh said. "Suddenly the number of traffic challans has shot up."

Touts near the monuments - called Lapkas in local parlance - have been warned. "They will be physically shunted out and booked if a tourist complains of harassment," Deputy Inspectotr General of Police Aseem Arun said. "They will first be told to mend their ways, later face the music."

The Regional Transport Office, haven of corrupt clerks and middlemen, presents a changed look after senior officials chased touts and fixers away and the clerks or babus collectively swore they would come clean.

Transport officer V.K. Sonkia vowed the campaign would continue till the goals were achieved. "All information is now available on our website: The number of licences issued and the state of applications," he said. A miracle-change was seen at the Sales Tax (trade tax now) divisional office at Jaipur House as well. The babus congregated in the hall there and took a joint oath against bribery. It was administered by Additional Commissioner Janardan Dubey.