The new Uttarakhand DGP has announced that police station in-charges who come up with innovative ideas for better coordination of Char Dham Yatra beginning next week will get cash rewards.
DGP M A Ganpati, who recently took over as the state's new police chief, made the announcement while reviewing preparations for the yatra with SDRF, IRB and PAC officials via video conferencing at the state police headquarters here yesterday evening.
He asked the officials to take every step to ensure a safe pilgrimage for devotees during the yatra comprising the shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. It will begin on May 9.
Vulnerable spots en route to the Himalayan shrines should be identified in advance and a list of key mobile numbers of different agencies, including office bearers of bus and taxi unions, should be maintained to send weather forecasts, besides information in case of landslides and road blockades through SMS, he said.
Giving the assurance that additional deployment of forces will soon be made for the smooth conduct of the yatra, Ganpati said police station incharges who come up with new ideas and introduce innovative techniques for better coordination of the annual pilgrimage will be given a cash reward of Rs 20,000 each.
The DGP, who spoke through video conferencing to the heads of State Disaster Response Force, India Reserve Battalion and Provincial Armed Constabulary, also asked them to cooperate fully in the ongoing operation to control forest fires in the state.
He also asked them to take stringent legal action against people found guilty of deliberately starting forest blazes.
