Tripura CM orders stricter enforcement against drugs, crime
Agartala, Aug 5
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday asserted that there would be "no room for leniency" in the fight against drugs and crime, directing the police and civil administration to intensify coordinated enforcement and, if necessary, constitute a special task force to curb narcotics trafficking and criminal activities.
Addressing a Task Monitoring System virtual meeting from the State Civil Secretariat, the Chief Minister said every level of the administration must function in a more coordinated, strict and effective manner to realise the government's goal of making Tripura a drug-free state.
He asked the police and district administrations to identify crime-prone areas, strengthen regular patrolling and enhance surveillance, particularly around schools, colleges and other vulnerable locations.
Saha also stressed the need for round-the-clock CCTV surveillance and additional police deployment in and around the GBP Hospital area in Agartala to prevent criminal activities. He directed officials to adopt a zero-tolerance approach against narcotics-related offences.
Highlighting the importance of tourism, Saha said Tripura's tourism potential has gained national recognition and instructed departments and district administrations to keep all major tourist destinations, including Chhabimura, Unakoti, Dumboor and Neermahal, clean, well-maintained and visitor-friendly through regular inspections and monitoring.
The Chief Minister also directed District Magistrates to make comprehensive preparations for the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign to be held from August 9 to 17 and programmes marking the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. He said the main state-level function would be organised at Ujjayanta Palace on August 11 and called for active public participation to make the celebrations a success.
Reviewing the education sector, Saha said the government has undertaken several initiatives to improve government schools and stressed that, besides academic standards, school infrastructure, cleanliness, notice boards and the overall learning environment must be monitored regularly.
He instructed District Magistrates to intensify school inspections and warned that negligence in official duties would not be tolerated.
He also urged government officials at all levels to deal with the public courteously, patiently and with sensitivity. During the meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed the status of roads, electricity supply and drinking water services across the state and emphasised close coordination among departments to ensure prompt resolution of public grievances.
Referring to the Jal Jeevan Mission, Saha said nearly 85-86 per cent of the project has been completed and directed officials to expedite the remaining work. He specifically asked officials to adopt innovative and practical solutions to tackle drinking water scarcity in districts such as Khowai.
The Chief Minister also reviewed the progress towards operationalising Kailashahar Airport and sought detailed updates from the concerned departments. Emphasising citizen-centric governance, he said public services should be delivered with efficiency, courtesy and accountability.
At the outset, Secretary to the Chief Minister and Information and Cultural Affairs Secretary Kiran Gitte made a detailed presentation on the functioning of the Task Monitoring System and conducted the proceedings of the meeting.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, Directors and other senior officials. In contrast, District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police and other officers from all eight districts participated virtually.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good initiative but I wish they'd also focus on rehabilitation and awareness programs. Just catching peddlers isn't enough - we need to educate our youth about the dangers of drugs. Prevention is better than cure, isn't it? Also glad to see focus on school safety, my daughter studies in a college near GBP hospital area and it can get quite sketchy there sometimes.
Seeing Tripura in news for these positive steps makes me proud. The tourism push is also great - Neermahal and Unakoti are beautiful places that deserve more visitors. But let's be honest, mere directives won't work. Need strict monitoring and accountability. Hope the Task Monitoring System actually delivers results this time.
As someone who visits Tripura for business, I'm impressed by these developments. The emphasis on improving infrastructure - roads, electricity, water - alongside security measures shows a holistic approach. The Kailashahar Airport operationalization will be a game-changer for the region's connectivity. Good to see such comprehensive governance reviews.
The drugs problem in our state has been bad for years, especially near border areas. But I'm skeptical about these announcements. We've heard similar promises before. What we need is action, not just meetings! Also, while they're cracking down on drugs, the administration should ensure innocent people aren't harassed during raids. Har Ghar Tiranga campaign sounds nice though - will definitely participate with my family.
Appreciate the CM's focus on school infrastructure and inspections. Our government schools really need this attention. Also, the drinking water issue in Khowai is real - hope they come up with lasting solutions, not temporary fixes.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.