NT NETWORK
Panaji
In a major decision, the state government has decided to create two new police districts of Mapusa
and Ponda.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who is also the state’s Home Minister, said the creation of the two new police districts at Ponda and Mapusa will help the government in having a better and effective control over law and order in
the state.
Sawant said with the two new police districts, the state will now have a total of four police districts thus helping in prevention of crime. The four police districts will have four district Superintendents of Police (SPs), he said.
Stating that the creation of the new police districts will also facilitate people from remote places to visit the district SPs within a short time period, Sawant said likewise the district SPs will also be able to attend meetings with people residing in remote areas.
A press statement issued by the Chief Minister’s office on Monday stated that Goa is the most favoured tourist destination due to its scenic beauty and picturesque surroundings. “The large number of arrivals of tourists has resulted in tourist-related crimes and other issues. With Goa hosting many international events and the participants and visitors coming from the higher echelons of the society, it has put a tremendous strain on the police machinery. Likewise, frequent visits of VVIPs require elaborate police arrangements involving
large-scale police deployments during their visits,” it said.
“Therefore, in order to handle these situations and keep crime and law and order under control, it is necessary to increase the number of police districts in Goa so that there is effective control over the crime and security situation and better supervision over the police force during exigencies,” the press statement said, adding that there are many industrial estates in Goa besides the long coastline and many beaches which require effective policing.
The statement also said the overall security scenario and the upward crime graph necessitated more police districts. “Over the years, the role and tasks of Goa police have expanded and its functioning has become highly complex, calling for higher degree of professional skills and expertise. Moreover, the work opportunities to the people have led to migration, which has resulted in an influx of migrant population. In addition to the crime, there are other law and order issues, which police are required to handle on a day-to-day basis,” the press statement said.
It said that since the north and south districts are geographically vast and as a number of crime-prone areas come under in these districts, it has become difficult for one Superintendent of Police to manage a whole district.
