Ganga swells but river police yet to take safety measures

VARANASI: While the rise in water level of the Ganga maintained at the rate of above half meter per day and the steps at most of the ghats have submerged in the river, the speed boats of river police are standing as showpieces due to unavailability of drivers. Moreover, the deployment of flood-company of PAC could also not be ensured by the police so far. On detection of these loopholes in the security arrangements at riverfront, the IG zone, GL Meena asked his subordinates to engage local available divers to meet any emergency situation. Meanwhile a letter would be forwarded to ensure the availability of speed boat drivers for the Ganga. In view of the increasing level of water in the Ganga, due to which backflow of water is also being noticed in tributaries like river Varuna, the IG took a boat ride in the river with ASP security AK Pandey and CO Dashaswamedh Satyarth Aniruddh on Sunday. Afterwards he sought the details of security arrangements made by the district police at the river and at ghats to avoid occurrence of any untoward situation. During the inspection of security arrangements It was also revealed that despite availability of speed boats, the river police were unable to operate the motorboats for past many months as the drivers have been transferred and no new posting was made for the vacant posts of the drivers. The IG was informed that river police depended on local boatmen to move in river in case of any emergency. The IG was also taken aback to know that even after massive rise in Ganga, when boat operations have become difficult due to strong current in river stream, the deployment of flood company of PAC has not been ensured so far. When IG was told that due to unavailability of divers help of local divers is sought in the case of any emergency, he asked to send a proposal for nominating the same divers as 'police mitra.' It is worth to mention here that some groups like local unit of Shiv Sena have earlier given proposals to the district administration and police with a list of 97 divers. These groups also made suggestions to equip the divers with life saving articles and some remuneration but the government machinery showed no interest in the proposal. The IG asked his subordinates to collect the lists given under these proposals by the local groups. He asked CO Dashaswamedh to send a proposal to SSP Varanasi, while a proposal would also be forwarded to the police headquarters from his office in this regard. Meena said as the festive period was commencing in the month of July leading to an increase of crowd on the ghats, all the preparations regarding security should be completed soon.

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Ganga-swells-but-river-police-yet-to-take-safety-measures/articleshow/20853104.cms

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