In an instance of the State Government opening its purse strings generously, it has approved procurement of nine satellite mobile phones for State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). They would soon be purchased, State Government officials say.
The purchase is an imperative, given the fact that disruption of mobile phone services is being reported from time to time in the higher reaches of the State. Things are being delayed in the absence of information, they say, adding that the enforcement agencies act only after being informed.
With the help of satellite mobile phones, the police response time will be increased and they can start relief and rescue operation once they are informed about anything that warrants their promptly plunging into action, the officials say.
State director general of police BS Sidhu said that police face difficulties to conduct relief and rescue operation when the weather is increment. “This happens frequently in the high altitude areas, resulting in the mobile service getting out of order. This naturally lands us in difficulties as the process of dissemination of information gets delayed,” he said.
“Keeping this recurrent problem in view, we have recently sent a proposal to the State government, impressing upon it the imperative to procure satellite mobile phones for SDRF. The State government has approved it and they would soon be purchased,” he added.