Vadodatra MC to cough up Rs 46 lakh for services of SRP personnel

VADODARA : Cash strapped Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) will have to pay over Rs 46lakh every month for the services of the State Reserve Police (SRP) personnel that will be deployed on duty with the civic body. The VMC has started using the personnel for various duties in the city.

The civic body had sought SRP personnel as its officials and security staff often faced hostile situations while impounding stray cattle and removal of encroachments. In the past, these have led to clashes too.

The VMC was concerned, in particular, about the operations to impound cattle as the cattle owners made sounds to alarm cattle that ran amok during the drives. The teams of the civic body were also chased by the cattle owners and at times they even freed the cattle impounded by the teams.

The civic body also wanted to start sanitation squads in each ward of the civic body to fine those littering public places. The squads are also supposed to take care of spots where people dump garbage despite warnings against doing so.

In wake of the request by the civic body, the state police allocated a team of personnel from SRP Group 1 in the city to the civic body. The personnel include two police sub-inspectors, seven assistant sub-inspectors, eight head constables and 42 police constables. All the policemen are armed and have started duties.

According to the state police’s policy, SRP personnel are awarded on an ‘on payment’ basis and the charges are double the salary and other emoluments paid to the personnel. When VMC inquired about the amount payable for the SRP personnel posted with it, it came to light that their salaries amounted to Rs 22.73lakh. The VMC will have to pay Rs 46.33lakh for their services which includes the double salary and taxes.

The VMC administration has sought a nod from the standing committee of the civic body for the expenses. It has also stated in a proposal that the issue will be raised with the state police and attempts will be made to ensure that the SRP personnel are provided on the cost of their salaries and not double the amount. The civic body will also try to convince that these personnel should be sent on deputation to the VMC.