Police seized Rs.186 crores worth inducements in Telangana
Hyderabad: A whopping 186 crores worth of inducements were seized by the Telangana police in view of upcoming lok sabha election in the state, informed Telangana Director General of police (DGP) Ravi Gupta. And stressed that “Conducting a fair election is the fundamental duty of Police in a Democracy”.
DGP Ravi Gupta reiterated that with strict adherence to the Model Code of Conduct, as mandated by the Election Commission of India, the Telangana State Police has established a network of security checkpoints.This network encompasses 482 Fixed Static Teams (FSTs), 462 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs), 89 Inter-State Border Check posts, and 173 Inter-District Check Posts. He added that additionally, mobile police units have been mobilized to intercept and thwart any attempts of illegal transportation of money, liquor, or other illicit materials.
“Since the announcement of the Model Code of Conduct on 16th March 2024, Telangana state police have seized cash amounting to Rs. 186.14 Crores, along with substantial confiscations of liquor, narcotic drugs, precious metals, and other inducements. The Telangana State Police has registered a total of 8863 cases, for offences under the Excise Act, Narcotics Act, Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Representation of the People Act (RP Act),” said DGP in an official statement. Furthermore, he said to ensure peace, 34,526 individuals, identified as rowdies, bad characters, election offenders, or potential troublemakers, have been bound over to ensure their compliance with legal norms.
Comprehensive security arrangements
Explaining about the comprehensive security arrangements DGP said, “We have deployed various law enforcement agencies, including 73,414 ranks of Civil Police, 500 Sections of TS Special Police, 164 companies of Central Armed Police Force(CAPF), 3 Companies of Tamil Nadu SAP, 2088 ranks from other Departments, and 7,000 Home Guards sourced from other States.
DGP Ravi Gupta said that the Telangana State Police has instituted a centralized control room at the DGP Office, slated to commence operations from 12th May 7 am onwards. This control room will function continuously until the final Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is securely lodged in the strong room. Additionally, an intricate communication network has been established to facilitate seamless coordination among polling personnel.
CM Revanth Reddy reorganizes disaster management for Greater Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has decided to assign critical responsibilities to the Disaster Management Department within Greater Hyderabad. He has directed officials to implement structural changes and redistribute responsibilities accordingly. In a review meeting at the Secretariat on Monday evening, the Chief Minister discussed the reorganization with officials from Municipal Administration, HMDA, and Musi Development.
Expansion of disaster management responsibilities
Recognizing the geographic expansion of Hyderabad, the Chief Minister ordered the Disaster Management Department to extend its jurisdiction to the Outer Ring Road. He suggested including GHMC, 27 surrounding municipalities and corporations, and 33 gram panchayats within its service area. The department will be renamed the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring Protection (HYDRA). The Chief Minister proposed appointing a DIG-level officer as the director and SP-level officers as additional directors. He also recommended special teams from GHMC, HMDA, the Water Board, city traffic, and other departments to join this new division.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need for the Disaster Management Department to offer continuous services to city residents, not just during floods or emergencies. HYDRA should actively address all issues faced by Hyderabad’s citizens, including preserving the city’s tanks and ponds, protecting government properties from encroachments, and managing hoardings and flex banners. Additionally, HYDRA will oversee water pipelines, electricity supply lines, drainage, flood management, and traffic control.
Focus on heritage and infrastructure projects
Chief Minister Reddy directed the acceleration of the Musi River Development Project, aiming to elevate Hyderabad’s international reputation. He stressed the importance of working towards the government’s goal of transforming this project into a landmark. He also ordered officials to take necessary actions to restore historical buildings and structures within the city. The GHMC presented a PowerPoint on various heritage sites, such as the City Library, Charminar Ayurvedic Hospital, and Nizamia Observatory etc. The Chief Minister encouraged exploring ways to develop these sites for tourism and integrating feasible ones into the Musi River Development Project.
The Chief Minister instructed Chief Secretary Shantikumar to draft a comprehensive reorganization plan, including staffing, duties, and budget allocations for HYDRA. He also emphasized identifying key areas where the Disaster Management Department can enhance its operations.
The meeting included Chief Secretary Shantikumar, Principal Secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development Danakishore, GHMC Commissioner Amrapali, GHMC Vigilance Disaster Management Commissioner A.V. Ranganath, and Hyderabad Water Board MD Ashok Reddy.
