Himachal government requested to introduce photo identity card system

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Punjab Newsline
Bijender Sharma
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SHIMLA: Himachal pradesh govt on Tuesday requested the centre to introduce photo identity card system for Tibetian refugees and Nepalese living in the state.

File Photo: The Dalai Lama listens as Himachal CM Prem Kumar Dhumal apparently shares some cricket tips to him as they watch a friendly cricket match in Dharamsala on Wednesday (Photo: Tenzin Dasel/Phayul)

While speaking in the chief ministers conference in vigyan bhawan New Delhi,state chief minister Professor Prem Kumar Dhumal told that at present 23000 Tibetan refugees and 25000 Nepalese are living in  the state and pleaded for setting up mechanism  for their identity check. He said that state C I D and  intelligence department is keeping strict vigil on their activities and asked the ministry of home affairs and ministry of external affairs  to introduce mechanism  for security check .

Chief Minister Professor Prem Kumar Dhumal said that state govt is providing comprehensive security to Tibetan govt in Exile and tibetan spirtual guru KARMAPA . He requested the central govt to fully reimburse the expenditure incurred to provide security to the  Tibetan Govt in Exile . He told that  five companies of  himachal police force has been deployed in chamba district along border of Jammu and Kashmir to maintain law and order and peace in the region and added that state  shares a long and porous interstate border of over 1100 Kms with states of Jammu& kashmir,punjab,haryana and uttrakhand . He said that state has an international borders with China of over 200 Kms. He told that state govt is spending around 12 crore rupees annually on Security Related Expenditures while the centre govt is providing annual assistance of rupees four crores  only . He demanded that centre govt should provided total expenditure of rupees 12 crore incurred on deployement of state police force on inter state borders and for providing security to tibetan government in exile to the state govt under security related expenditure .

Chief Minister Professor  Prem kumar Dhumal demanded sanction of a battalion of National Security Guards and 6th Indian Reserve battalion in the state to strengthen the security infrastructure in  the state . He told that state govt has recently recruited 1523 constable to fill the vacancies at cutting edge level and added that  recruitment process for 4th I R Battalion will be completed soon . He told that recruitment process for 5th I R Women Battalion would also be completed simultaneously.He told that two new  Indian Reserve Battalions raised will be provided Commando training and will be equipped with latest equipmnents . He told that Quick Reaction Teams have been constituted in all the districts and bomb disposal squads have been activated and put on maximum alert throughout the state .He told that security at  all the public places and stragetic important places have been tightened and community policing scheme has been started in all the police stations of the state .

Chief Minister Professor Prem Kumar Dhumal said that an action plan has been formulated to deal with bomb threats and bomb blasts which also covers pre blast preparedness,public awarness campaign and other contigency plans .He said that senior police officers have conducted security review at all  the famous tourist destinations of the state and  print and elecronic media has been actively  associated to sensitize the local population so as to keep strict vigil on suspected and other anti social elements .He suggested that fire fighting services should be strengthened to cope with multi hazard situations  and requested the central govt to convert them into All Hazards Emergency  Units by allocationg appropriate funds to perform major role in relief and rescue operations during the exigencies .He asked the central govt to strengthen intelligence network of state govts by providing budgetary  support on technical and manpower front.