In principle approval for para-military's 2nd unit

Home Minister V S Acharya told reporters that the State intends to locate the unit in Dharwad for which a 500 acre land has been identified. The first unit of the Battalion has been set up in Koppal.

Besides, the police department has introduced 18 multi-utility vigilance and relief vehicles and five interceptor vehicles to maintain law and order, and traffic in Bangalore. Each of these vehicle costs Rs 25 lakh, the Home Minister said.

As many as 1,500 vehicles being used in the department need to be replaced as they have become old. The Chief Minister has approved replacement of 500 vehicles at the cost of Rs 18 crore in the first phase, he said.

Houses for police

Acharya said the department has planned to construct 70,000 residential units for police personnel in the next three years in the State. The project is estimated to cost Rs 1,500 crore.

Of one lakh police personnel in the State, only 30,000 personnel have got Government residential quarters. Many of the existing quarters are in dilapidated condition, the minister said.

Ministers not under vigil

He said the State cabinet ministers are not under surveillance. “Two police personnel, who were in mufti recently at an inspection visit of Muzrai Minister Krishnaiah Setty, took photographs using a cellphone as there was some tension.

They (policemen) were not spying on the minister,” he stated.