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My task is to guide administration in maintaining law and order: Gurjar

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

Lieutenant Governor Govind Singh Gurjar.

PUDUCHERRY: Lieutenant Governor Govind Singh Gurjar on Monday said his primary task was to guide the government in taking necessary steps to maintain law and order.

In an informal conversation with The Hindu, the Lieutenant Governor said, “my thrust area is to see that Puducherry remained a peaceful territory. If the law and order situation got worse, it would have a serious impact on Puducherry’s image.” As there was not much headway made on the industrial side, it should be of prime importance to create a peaceful atmosphere to give further push to the tourism sector, he said.

“One of our main sources of income is the tourism sector. Tourists will not visit if they find the law and order situation not conducive,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Reacting to the incident that occurred on the court premises, he said it had dented the image of the police force. It was “unfortunate” that even personnel from the India Reserve Battalion, a strike force formed by the Union Government, joined other members of the police force to stage the agitation, he further said.

The situation was building up for some time and there were reports of policemen holding meetings, he said. “A situation like subordinate officers not taking orders from the seniors is an unhealthy sign,” he further said.

“There were certain discrepancies in the functioning of the police force earlier, even at the top level. I am sure that with the present team things would improve.” Several steps were being taken to bring in discipline and prevent such incidents in the future. One of the measures being considered was to rotate the posting of personnel in the IRB with their counterparts in other States, Mr. Gurjar said.

The Lieutenant Governor also expressed concern of reports about corruption in the Police Department.

On his pet subject, the Lieutenant Governor said he was very much interested in making Puducherry a clean and green town and sought support of all sections to make it successful.

A committee headed by Chief Secretary Naini Jayaseelan is working towards accomplishing the task. A retired government official Dayalan had been appointed as the nodal officer and the Forest Department would be the nodal agency, Mr. Gurjar said.

Apart from the cleaning drive, the Municipalities have been asked to identify vacant lands and earmark the place for establishing gardens. The beach promenade and the Ousteri Lake would be beautified to make it more attractive for tourists.

Funds would be provided to the civic bodies from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission for executing the work, Mr. Gurjar said.

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