Minister for Home and Transport R. Ashok said on Thursday that the Government would recruit over 3,000 police constables in the State soon.
Mr. Ashok told presspersons that an order had been issued in this regard. Nearly 18,000 posts of constables fell vacant every year, he said. The Government would change its policy regarding the appointment of police personnel. Steps would be taken to strengthen and modernise the police force. Efforts would be made to provide better salaries and housing to police personnel.
Naxal problem
He put the number of naxalites in the Western Ghats at 20 and said except for five persons, the rest had been hired from Tamil Nadu. Additional funds would be sought from the Centre to increase coastal security in the State.
On Government's decision to start its own television channel to telecast the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, Mr. Ashok said it was the prerogative of the presiding officers of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
On the decision of the Opposition to boycott the House Committee set up to investigate the issue of three former Ministers watching porn clips during the recently concluded Assembly session, Mr. Ashok said every accused had a right to be heard as per the law of the land.
KSRTC service
On why the KSRTC buses had not been introduced in the Coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada despite his assurance two years ago, Mr. Ashok said the Government had started plying Volvo buses from Manipal to Mangalore and Kasaragod. “We are not starting buses against the private operators. Healthy competition is always good. People will then have a choice. We have not bowed to the private bus operators' lobby,” he said.
He said the KSRTC could not run its regular buses in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts as these districts had hilly terrain.
“We will reduce the length of the buses and introduce them here once the district authorities give permission,” he said.
A modern KSRTC bus stand would be built at Bannanje in Udupi in memory of V.S. Acharya, Mr. Ashok said.
