In a bid to dodge increasing heat wave in the State, Traffic personnels in Ranchi have been advised to do duties in rotation on their respective posts during afternoons and also to take extra precaution to deal with dehydration. A system has also been installed at the office of Traffic SP from where water will be supplied to all the posts in the morning so that traffic personnel do not have to roam around in search of water.
“We have already distributed umbrellas to avoid direct sun but it is not possible for them to do their duties while holding it, hence they have been asked to do their duties in a rotation of half an hour each with other Traffic personnel deputed at the same post so that they could avoid being under the direct sun for a longer period of time,” said Traffic SP Sanjay Ranjan Singh. They however, will have to be on their toes during peak hours, he added.
Remarkably, Traffic personnel are there for the whole day even during the scorching heat in summers and sometimes perform their duties non-stop for more than 12 hours in a day.
Traffic personnel have also been directed to take all precautions so that they do not get fall prey of dehydration, said Ranjan.
The Traffic SP also said that a water filter system along with a cooler has also been installed at his office from where water jars filled with cold water will be supplied at all Traffic Posts to quench the thirst of traffic personnel deputed there.
“Supply of water to all the posts will be started within a day or two,” he added.
The District Police have also directed the police personnel deputed in fields to avoid direct sun on their heads and wear caps all the time.
“Though being a policeman, they cannot enjoy the privileges of a common man as they will have to go to their work whether it heat, cold or rain. Still, we have asked them to wear caps all the time to avoid direct sun on their heads,” said SP Traffic. In addition to that they have also been asked to take proper meal and adequate water so that they do not get affected by dehydration,’ said Ranchi SSP Kuldeep Dwivedi.
Police Men’s Association however, alleged that despite being on duty round the clock, adequate resources are not being made available to the Police personnel in the State.
“Although umbrellas were distributed among the police personnel, it was very few in numbers and most of the police personnel could not get it. Proper care must be taken by the State Government in making all the resources available to them,” said Vice President of Police Men’s Association Rakesh Kumar Pandey. He also demanded 13 months’ salary for the police personnel which has been implemented in most of the neighboring States like Odisha and Bihar along with Delhi.
“Despite the consent given by Chief Minister himself before Dushehra, I do not understand why it is being held up by bureaucrats” said Pandey. Morale of the Police Personnel has gone down due to regular negligence of the State Government in the last few years, he alleged.