Security beefed up for Independence Day

Mumbai, Aug 13: The law enforcement agencies have beefed up security at sensitive spots and vital installations across Maharashtra in view of the Independence Day and the festival season.

According to official sources, a security review meeting, headed by Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister R R Patil, was held here on Tuesday. Aug 12 In the meeting, it was decided to seek additional reinforcements from the Central Government owing to Independence Day and the forthcoming festival season.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Siddhivinayak temple, Mahalaxmi temple, the state Secretariat, BARC and government offices in the city have been placed under a thick security cover, the sources added.

The Railways have also intensified security at the railway stations, following the recent serial bomb blasts at Bangalore and Ahmedabad and in view of a threatening e-mail stating that the next target is Mumbai, the commercial capital of the country.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has also stepped up security at water reserviors, disaster control room sources said.

The government has already given instructions to the Irrigation Department to keep close vigil on irrigation dams.

Meanwhile, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), has also taken a holistic view of security and a comprehensive action plan has been drawn up with enhanced security at various embarkation points at its review meeting, headed by chairman R S Sharma yesterday in New Delhi.

Mr Sharma made it amply clear that there can be no compromise on the security and safety of the Oil and Gas Processing facilities. He reiterated that the design of terrorists is to destabilise the economy of the country and as a major upstream company, it is ONGC's endeavour and commitment to ensure a secure and sufficient supply of energy availability to the country with a population of a billion. Security of the producing assets is a critical step towards this challenge.

UNI