Though some steps have been taken to improve policing in Uttarakhand during the past one year, various measures are yet to be taken to facilitate major improvement in law and order machinery in the State. While highlighting the achievements during his one year term in office so far, the Chief Minister TS Rawat claimed that the State Government has adopted zero tolerance to corruption and a special fund has also been released for the police stations to eradicate compulsive corruption.
However, observers point out that various other important measures are yet to be taken by the State Government to bring about the necessary improvement in the traffic, law and order machinery of the State.
People in Dehradun and other towns have become habituated to experiencing traffic congestions on a regular basis. The rising graph of road accidents across the State has also become a major cause for concern of the State which invites visitors from across India and abroad. Shortage of infrastructure related to roads and equipment in the police department are affecting the impact of efforts taken by the authorities, opine observers.
In order to improve infrastructure related to traffic improvement, the previous state government had released a Government order (GO) on utilisation of 75 per cent of the total amount collected in the form of traffic violation penalties by the police department. However, this GO is yet to be executed.
Further, there are a considerable number of police posts in the State which are bereft of the basic amenities like rooms, toilets and proper lock-ups. Proposals sent to the State Government for such facilities are yet to be cleared. To implement the HC’s order to the State Government for setting up regular police stations in the revenue areas, the necessary measures are yet to be taken.