PANAJI
The government has spent around Rs 11.44 crore annually on the security of ‘categorized protected persons’ in the State over the last three years.
While their security is decided by virtue of the office held by them such as Governor, Speaker, Chief Minister, ministers and ex-CMs, Jnanpith award winner Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo is assigned ‘threat-based security.’
“All the Protected Persons are provided position-based security by virtue of the office held by them, except in the case of Damodar Mauzo who is provided threat-based security. As regards to the ‘cost incurred individually for providing security to the individual by the Government for past three years’, average cost per annum is Rs 11,44,32,000,” CM Pramod Sawant said in reply to a question tabled by MLA Venzy Viegas.
While the government has conceded that none of the protectees in Goa as per a list dated April 13, 2022 are threat perception protectees, the Konkani writer’s threat perception has been decided by the Ministry of Home Affairs’ VIP Security Section in New Delhi.
“As per the records of the Security Unit, no such incident of attack on Protected Persons has occurred in recent times,” the reply further states.
In a recent meeting held on May 26, 2023, the State Security Review Committee re-assessed the security arrangements for VIPs and forwarded some recommendations to the government. The CM stated that no action has been taken on these recommendations yet.
To another question, the CM maintained that other individuals and VIPs are provided security cover by threat perception. This security arrangement consists of a collective deployment of 14 police constables, 96 police constables, and 110 armed personnel. Three constables have been deployed for retired Judge V K Jadhav, who is inquiring into various complaints and FIRs of land-grabbing cases in the State.
