SHIMLA, Sept 9 - A media delegation comprising 18 rural journalists and two DIPR Officials from Assam on �Goodwill Mission on their week-long visit to Himachal Pradesh learned about the Shimla Smart City Mission, Jal Prabhadan Nigam including water distribution monitoring system of Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC), here today. The tour has been organised by the Assam DIPR.
Shimla Mayor Kusum Sadret welcomed the delegation along with Deputy Mayor, Rakesh Sharma and also honoured and addressed them.
A brief presentation was given by Commissioner, Municipal Commissioner Pankaj Rai on the working of Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC). The highlight of the presentation was e-vidhan software developed by SMC and regarding functioning of slaughter house, which is one of the best in India. He also detailed about the �Waste to Energy� scheme, sewerage system, ropeway projects, etc. A presentation was also given on Smart City project and water supply system of the town.
The delegation also presented a goodwill gesture to the Director General of Police, Himachal Pradesh SR Mardi from the Government of Assam.
While interacting with the media, the DGP spoke on length about the various police schemes particularly about the community policing and steps being taken by the police to minimise crimes.
He also briefed about the increasing impact of drug abuse and the steps being taken to control it. He said that a major challenge is to control drug trafficking in the State. As of now, 1.7 percent are opium addicts in the State as compared to 2.8 percent in Punjab, he said. Nasha Nivaran Samiti is working in close coordination with the police to control drug abuse. The Samiti will go up to the panchayat level and anyone can be the member of the committee from the panchayat, which is being regulated by police. He said that the engineering, enforcement and education are being used as tools to minimise accidents in the State. The topography of the State is such that the Himachal roads are prone to accidents.
The DGP said that the third major issue was safety of women and the State police was alive to such crimes. The police had installed hidden CCTVs almost at all the public places. In Shimla, there were around 20 CCTV hidden cameras at various places which were helping in controlling crime.
Joint Director, Public Relations to the Government of Assam K Bargohain and Senior Information Officer Samar Kalita honoured the DGP.
Earlier, the delegation visited and interacted with the officers of Information and Public Relations department of Himachal Pradesh. The facilities pertaining to journalists, the accreditation process, functioning of various sections including technical, advertisements and Song and Drama was also part of the interaction. The delegation later visited the Press Club of Shimla, where they were honoured by the President of Press Club, Anil Bhardwaj and other senior members.
