CM announces concessions for police personnel

Chennai, Aug 30 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today announced an array of concessions for the state police personnel, including removal of age limits for promotions.

Replying to the debate on the demand for grants for the police department, Mr Karunanidhi, who is in-charge of police, said the removal of age limit would immediately benefit 450 police and many in the coming years.

Detailing the present age limits, he said when there was no age limits for promotions for a majority of the government staff, the restrictions in police department had affected many.

Mr Karunanidhi also announced hike in risk allowance from Rs 60 to Rs 120 for constables and inspectors and from Rs 70 to Rs 140 for deputy superintendent of police and additional superintendent of police.

The risk allowance of firemen was also hiked from Rs 40 to Rs 120 and from Rs 60 to Rs 140, he said adding those in the armed forces, would hitherto get leave travel allowance. The enhanced allowaces would come into effect from September one, he added.

The Chief Minister said the government had decided to recruit 10,000 grade-II constables and in the first phase, 5,000 constables would be recruited.

He said a new building inside the DGP complex would be built at a cost of Rs 22 crore and the new building would be constructed without causing any damage to the existing historic structure. The new building would be built in two years and a sum of Rs ten crore would be allotted for this in this year.

Mr Karunanidhi also announced promotions to policemen in various categories, benefiting a total of 2447 policemen. The promotions would incur the state exchequer an additional expenditure of Rs One crore a year.

He said the state had a total strength of 98,897 police personnel but only 42.48 per cent of them had housing facilities. Presently, 5373 police quarters were being built and every year, 3000 quarters were being built. This year, 3000 new police quarters would be constructed at a total cost of Rs 135 crore.

UNI GV/WS AJ DKB VV1908