Hovercraft service mooted
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 10:
On the model of the BSF operation on Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir, the Government of Manipur has proposed induction of hovercraft in the Loktak Lake Protection Force to be set up for the purpose of flushing out UGs from Loktak and its surrounding lakes.
Disclosing this to The Sangai Express, a reliable source said that the Government of Manipur has written to the Union Home Ministry for sanctioning three hovercrafts to be used in the operation by the proposed Loktak Protection Force.
To be set up at the recommendation of the State Cabinet, the proposed Protection Force will have a total strength of 235 personnel, the source informed.
While disclosing that the cost of one hovercraft is above Rs 1 crore, the source said that in the letter, the Government of Manipur has also urged the Union Home Ministry to foot the cost of the three hovercrafts.
On the other hand, a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Rakesh yesterday morning has decided that the LDA should make the arrangement for paying the required salary and other allowance to the personnel of the proposed Protection Force.
Principal Secretary Home DS Poonia and DGP Y Joykumar were also present during the meeting.
While conveying that the Finance Department has already started the process of seeking the concurrence of the Home Department to commence recruitment of the personnel, the source said that three outposts of the force would also be stationed around the lake.
During his last visit to Imphal, Union Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrashekhar had issued the approval on setting up of the force which would be under the operational command of the State police.