Bhopal:The Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that sound law and order is the key to development and prosperity of the state. Common man is central to all the works being carried out by the state government, he added.
Shri Chouhan observed this while laying the foundation stone for a new police headquarters building here today.Home Minister Shri Himmat Kothari presided over the function attended among others by the Finance Minister Shri Raghavji as guest of honour and Member of Parliament Shri Laxaminarayan Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary Shri Vinod Choudhary, public representatives and senior administrative and police officers.
The Chief Minister said that despite limited resources and number strength Madhya Pradesh police has been able to provide protection and assurance of safety to the people. He lauded the achievements of the police in eliminating dacoits, curbing naxalism and destroying the network of terrorist outfits like SIMI in the state.
Shri Chouhan said that the state government is committed to providing all necessary facilities to enable the police to discharge its duties and responsibilities more efficiently and funds would be no impediment. He asked the Home Minister to make an assessment of annual expenditure incurred by police stations on stationery. He said that he is alive to the difficulties and problems of the police force and efforts are afoot to solve them.
The Chief Minister said that efforts would be intensified to provide well-facilitated houses to police personnel of every level. He gave his consent for adequate increase in the refreshment and food allowance to the police personnel during the duty hours. He also announce provide equal nourishment allowance to the police personnel.
Shri Chouhan said that increase in police strength is need of the hour in view of the increasing population. He said that the ban on recruitment in police force has been lifted and 2000 new posts have been sanctioned. A total of 987 new posts have been sanctioned for Rani Durgawati battalion. He said the process of sanctioning new posts for police force would continue.
The Chief Minister extended his good wishes to the police force for the new building. He said that all modern facilities would be provided to the new building of the police headquarters.
The Home Minister Shri Himmat Kothari said that Madhya Pradesh police is more disciplined and devoted than their counterparts in other states. He reiterated the state government’s commitment to solving the problems of the police force. He said that the decision of the state government taken by the state government in 2004 to activate the Police Housing Corporation has been implemented efficiently and now it is playing an important role in solving the housing problems of the police personnel.
The Director General of Police Shri S.K. Raut said that the new police headquarters building would help create a better atmosphere and work culture. He stressed the need for amendment in the Police Act in tune with the changing scenario and hoped that the state government would take a suitable action in this regard soon.
The Chairman of M.P. Police Housing Corporation Shri Raman Kakkad gave an account of the Corporation’s activities. He informed that the Corporation has constructed 15 thousand houses and 600 administrative buildings during 26 years of its existence. There is a target to construct 3000 houses and 175 administrative buildings during 2008-09. The Corporation has earned a net profit of Rs. 24 crore in last two years. With this amount well-facilitated community halls and open-air theatres would be constructed in the police colonies at Jabalpur, Bhopal, Indore and Gwalior. State’s first metro police station is being constructed at Habibganj in Bhopal.
At the outset, the Chief Minister was presented a cheque of Rs. one crore as dividend by Police Housing corporation. Shri Chouhan saw the models of the new building. He also visited the houses on the ground floor, first floor and second floor in the police housing colony, Jehangirabad and talked to the families living there. He directed to solve the problem of seepage in these houses.
The Chief Minister was welcomed by the Director General of Police Shri S.K. Raut, Chairman of Police Housing Corporation Shri Raman Kakkad, Managing Director Shri Pawan Jain and Inspector General, Administration Shri Sarabjit Singh. Additional Director General of Police Shri P.L. Pandey proposed a vote of thanks.
