While the city’s prime tourist spot Sukhna lake is brimming with tourists from all over the country, the tourism police has yet again gone missing from the tourist spot.
Deployed for the protection and guidance of the tourists, the tourism police were found missing at the main tourist spot here. During a visit by The Pioneer reporter, only one Tourism police constable was seen patrolling at lake but she left at 1 pm for lunch break. Nobody else was deployed and no other constable was sent to replace her.
A Traffic police constable was also seen at the Sukhna check post at around 1 pm. On being enquired about Tourism police team members, he replied that the shift is about to change at 4 pm and this is lunchtime hence nobody is present here at this time.
A team of almost four to five constables is supposed to be deployed at the lake for proper vigilance but presence of a single constable on duty reflected the fallacies of the administration. Another predicament is the absence of contact details of the deployed personnel at the check post for immediate action.
When re-launched in October 2010, the tourism police was supposed to be stationed at vantage places and tourist spots of Chandigarh including Sukhna lake, Rock Garden, Rose Garden, Shopping Plaza-17, Railway Station, Airport, ISBT-17 and 43. The police constables have been trained to help even the foreign tourists in languages like English, French, and Italian.
Nevertheless, one cannot spot any personnel of UT Tourism Police at Sukhna lake, Rose Garden and at other tourist spots. When contacted, CITCO general manager (tourism), AK Malhotra said, “We have deployed four to five personnel at Sukhna but their working is managed by Chandigarh Police. We don’t keep an eye on them and they are answerable to DSP Central.”
On this, DSP (central) Rajesh Kalia said, “We will see into the matter. Although we take routine rounds, but this matter of absence without the knowledge of seniors will be taken care of.” The Sukhna lake is a famous attraction for youngsters in the city. There have been reports of ruckus, trespassing, theft, and eve teasing on the lake.
However, no steps to prevent such happenings have been taken by the UT Administration.A proposal to install CCTV cameras on the jogging track and premises of the lake was also taken up last year. But, the CCTVs have only been installed in the restaurant area leaving rest of the area out of vigilance.