Bihar govt proposes ban on hooters in vehicles, barring Gov, Chief Justice

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today proposed banning hooters in vehicles barring those of the Governor, Patna High Court Chief Justice, fire engines and ambulances to check increasing sound pollution.

Presiding over a home department review meeting, Kumar stressed on measures to contain noise pollution by blaring hooters of vehicles belonging to VIPs and proposed banning them other than those carrying the governor, chief justice, fire engines and ambulances.

He also directed putting in place measures to end unnecessary blaring of horns by vehicles.

Expressing concern at the rise in incidents of organised crime, he directed the police to take steps to contain them as the state government stood for rule of law.

Lack of resources will not come in the way of crackdown on organised crime and police department will be equipped with latest facilities for effectively dealing with the menace, he assured and proposed installation of CCTV cameras at important points in sensitive places and towns.

He asked jail authorities to take steps to strengthen internal monitoring and emphasised use of technology to track movement of visitors and goods carried by them.

Referring to the killing of two engineers of a private road construction company at Darbhanga, Kumar asked police to take action against those involved.

He emphasised on strengthening special task force and improving infrastructure for crime control and crime tracking network system and asked the police department to submit its proposal on it at the earliest. The department should make its recruitments in a transparent manner as per rules, he said and asked for expediting recruitment of police personnel on compassionate grounds to help dependents of policemen dying in harness.

With regard to fire service, Kumar asked for use of motorcycle-equipped fire extinguishers so that firemen could contain blaze in areas with narrow roads.

Reviewing the vigilance department, he directed its officials to step up crack-down on corrupt public servants and expedite investigation in cases registered in the past for early disposal in courts.

In cases of vigilance traps against corrupt public servants, he said their trial should be dealt with along the lines of Arms Act for speedy trial, besides initiating steps for confiscation of properties amassed by corrupt public servants beyond their known sources of income.

On shortage of manpower in the department, Kumar directed it to hire retired CBI officers at the level of superintendent of police and take police officers on deputation against vacancies till recruitment.

To ensure transparency in governance, the Chief Minister directed filing of online annual details of properties and assets by government employees.