"The Union Finance Ministry is keen on providing adequate infrastructure for the personnel working in Central Excise and Customs department," he said at a function here.
He said there was no paucity of funds for the construction of office buildings, additional staff quarters, modernisation and provision of computer systems.In the last several years, Rs 700-Rs 800 crore was being spent on this.
If at all there had been any failure or inadequate working ambience, it was the fault of the regional or zonal heads who had not submitted the requisite proposals to the ministry, Palanimanickam said inaugurating the newly created office of Chief Commissioner Custom (Preventive) here.
Similarly, the ministry was also in the process of clearing out the promotional stagnations and removing the ladder bottlenecks among the officials in the department.
Although, he could not quantify, he said fresh recruitments of both official and executive cadre was on.
M. S. Badhan, Member (Customs), CE & C Board, New Delhi, said the commissionerate strategically located here would closely monitor commercial frauds and anti-smuggling activities in the entire Tamil Nadu excluding northern region.
It would facilitate close and continuous co-ordination with
coastal police, coast guard and Naval forces and maintain vigil along the entire stretch of East Coast covering four minor ports, major port of Tuticorin and the international airport here.
A survey conducted earlier indicated the area was sensitive and prone to smuggling of red sanders, gold, electronic goods and narcotics.
