BMC plans round-the-clock special police force for city
Civic body to set up three police stations to help remove hawkers and keep eye on illegal constructions……..SUDHIR SURYAWANSHI
The BMC plans to become the first civic body in the country to have a specialised police force to work round the clock to remove illegal hawkers and demolish unauthorised structures.
As per plan, the BMC will set up three police stations for the purpose — in Byculla (for the island city), Andheri (for the western suburbs), and at Chembur (for the eastern suburbs).
The 1,000-odd police force working in these police stations will keep a 24-hour vigil on encroachments.
Currently, there are various developmental projects under construction in the city, such as the Mithi River widening, extension of the airport, the metro rail, the BRIMSTOWAD project for storm water drains, and the Mahatma Gandhi Padkranti Yojana (clearing footpaths of encroachments).
“Due to the unavailability of a police force at the right time to remove illegal structures that obstruct the projects, work on them has been delayed. Moreover, encroachmentclearing operations by the BMC have not been effective,” said Chandrashekhar Rokade, deputy municipal commissioner (demolition).
The proposal has been submitted to the state government, and Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has apparently agreed to the idea.
A senior police officer said that if the chief minister has agreed to deploying 1000-odd cops on the BMC payroll, then the proposal will get through very soon.
Rokade said that they have demanded this force after the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) set up such a force for itself.
“MSEB has got six independent police stations across the state, and that helps them earn extra revenue by controlling power theft,” said Rokade.
A senior civic officer pointed out that at present the BMC has to ask the police for help to clear encroachments. “Due to regular visits by high profile politicians and other work, the police force is always busy. This makes it difficult to remove unauthorised hawkers and prevent illegal constructions.
The situation gets worse when government holidays come one after the other, as it is during this time that illegal constructions come up rapidly.
“At such times, the BMC staffers are also on leave and no action can be taken.
“As a result, the illegal constructions remain as on the next working day, the encroachers get a stay order from court,” said the officer, who added that the new police force will bring much relief as it will work round the clock.
Rokade said that they will provide the space to set up the police stations in BMC-owned premises.
“Things like the required space, phones, vehicles, etc will be given to them for a period of five years, after which the duration will be revised.”
THE SPECIALISED FORCE
THE SPECIALISED FORCE
• Police Inspector (PI) — 3
• Police Sub Inspector (PSI) — 60
• Assistant Police Inspector (API) — 96
• Head Constable — 150
• Police Nayak — 390
• Ladies Police — 390
• Head clerk — 2
• Junior clerk — 4