PANAJI
The state government on Tuesday stated before the Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) that it has delayed the proposed inauguration of the Zuarinagar Police station at Sancoale scheduled to be held on February 24.
It was clarified that the police station would be inaugurated upon ensuring that the required amenities and infrastructure is in place in compliance with the legal necessities.
GHRC has now adjourned the matter to March 15 while directing the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to file a detailed reply.
The Police Station was scheduled to be inaugurated on Wednesday morning at the hands of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar and MLA Alina Saldanha.
GHRC directions come in the light of the report submitted to it by a team headed by GHRC secretary Vikas Gaunkeakr on the actual situation on ground at the proposed location of the police station.
The issue was brought to the notice of the GHRC by Adv Aires Rodrigues, who questioned the government’s hasty move to convert the badly equipped Sancoale Police Outpost, measuring around 80 sq metres, into a police station. While the police outpost presently has a staff of around five personnel, a full-fledged police station would require a minimum of 40 staffers, Adv Rodrigues pointed out in his complaint.
The complaint also alleged that the present premises include no separate toilets and barracks for female personnel. It has further been claimed that the power supply to the outpost is illegally received from a neighbouring petrol pump and the water supply has been ensured by a fertilizer manufacturer operating nearby.
