Andhra Pradesh: River bank police stations to be set up

Guntur: Guntur rural police is preparing to set up police stations close to Krishna river to protect cargo taking the inland waterways. The river bank police stations will work on the lines of existing marine police stations located on the sea shores.

Officials of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) met Guntur rural SP Ch Vijaya Rao on Wednesday and gave a presentation on the proposed inland waterway project.

They explained that two routes were being readied for cargo transport. The main corridor would be from Kakinada (East Godavari) to Tada (Nellore). The inland water corridor would enter the district at Harischandrapuram village and cross the state border at Madipadu village to enter Telangana.

IWAI state project director Srinivasa Rao requested the SP to provide security to the cargo movement, which is likely to commence after completion of the national waterways-IV project. He said they have already started operations in Assam, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

Vijaya Rao said they would ready an action plan for setting up the new river police stations. Police personnel posted at river stations would also be moving in the waters to monitor illegal boating and cargo smuggling. They would also help prevent accidents in the river.

Sources said that inland waterways authority would extend financial support for procurement of boats and other safety equipment for the police stations.

Hydrological engineer Prasad, river conservator Swaroop Kumar, Sattenapalle DSP Vijayabhaskara Reddy and other officials attended the meet.