Hyderabad, January 31: The Lake police station, which had been lying defunct for the past few years, has got a fresh lease of life.
The police station dedicated to guard the Hussain Sagar and prevent suicides, was started in 2002 as part of Lake Policing project.
But it died a swift death thanks to official apathy. The one jeep provided to it was under repair, the speed boat provided went unused and the wireless surveillance camera installed to monitor every inch of lake waters was not functional since the past few years.
Reviving the police station on Sunday, city police restarted the speed boat. “This will prove handy in preventing suicides and also conduct any rescue work,” city police commissioner AK Khan said.
The boat will be equipped with expert divers, each having a wireless set, dragon light and a beacon.
Apart from this, two new motorcycles and five bicycles were given to policemen for patrolling. The lake mobile jeep has also been repaired.
Eight mounted police personnel would also assist the Lake police.
“Five assistance booths have been installed along the lake. These booths would be stationed at Lumbini Park, Imax Rotary, Sanjeevaiah park, People’s Plaza and Tank Bund,’’ Khan said. The booths would be manned by policemen from 4 p.m to 9 p.m on weekdays and 9 a.m to 9 p.m on weekends and holidays.
The police station, headed by a sub-inspector earlier has been given additional manpower. Now, the police station would be headed by an inspector, K Srinivasa Rao, and would have two SI’s, three head constables, 10 constables and 14 Home Guards. Police personnel were also given a new red uniform for easy identification. Forty signages and sign boards would be installed along the lake. The wireless surveillance camera, which can rotate 360 degrees and capture pictures of the entire lake would be repaired soon, officials said.
Communication network of the police station would be improved by providing two static and three hand-held VHF sets and policemen on motorcycles and mobile jeep would carry hand-held sets. The personnel at the help booths and on bicycle would be given mobile phones for easy access.
The lake police was started in 2002 to control suicides in the lake waters and police claimed that nearly 60 suicides were prevented every year. Apart from preventing suicides, the lake police was introduced to prevent road accidents and snatching, to improve traffic, eradicate eve-teasing, regulate footpath vendors and prevention of flesh trade on the lake banks. “To prevent prostitution, two counselling centres have been started at the Lake police station and Tank Bund outpost with assistance from an NGO, Prajwala.
–Agencies