Cabinet clears ordinance to check mafia

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN. 12. In a move to crack down on organised crime, the Government is coming up with an ordinance arming the police with special powers and slapping stern punishment on the offenders.

``We will deal mercilessly with organised crime which is posing a serious threat to society,'' the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, told reporters on Friday after the Cabinet okayed the draft ordinance.

Modelled after a similar legislation in Mumbai, the Andhra Pradesh Prevention and Control of Organised Crime Ordinance has tough provisions such as death sentence, life term and minimum fine of Rs. 5 lakhs, permission to the police to intercept wire, electronic or oral communication, make such communications admissible as evidence against the accused, longer term of custody than provided in Cr. P.C.

Mr. Naidu explained that an officer of the Home Department in the rank not below Secretary to Government would be appointed to authorise the police to intercept communications while a senior police officer would be designated to order probe into offences of organised crime.

The Minister of Home had studied the legislation obtained in Maharashtra and recommended that AP follow suit. The Chief Minister referred to the menace of organised mafia in Mumbai and its impact on the cinema industry, and said with land values shooting in Hyderabad and other towns, it was necessary to act before the problem blew out of proportion.

The Cabinet approved the recommendation of a panel of officers to entrust development of the Biotech Park in Turkapalli in Ranga Reddy district to M/s Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. It would be completed in 3 phases in four-and-a-half years. The firm scored highest marks among 6 bidders.

It also approved certain criteria for allotment of land to investors in the setting up of financial district. Mr. Naidu explained he wanted to ``make Hyderabad the insurance and financial capital of the country like Mumbai.''

The Cabinet, which reviewed drought situation in 6 districts, decided that works under Neeru-Meeru programme would receive top priority. The second phase of Neeru-Meeru (January 19 to March 31) would involve 1,418 lakh cubic metres of earthwork over 5.57 lakh hectares at Rs. 327 crores.

Answering questions, he said drought situation prevailed in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, East Godavari, Adilabad, Chittoor and Nellore districts. The Cabinet approved release of Rs. 6 crores for relief work in addition to Rs. 6 crores released earlier. Earth-movers (Poclains) were used in the Neeru-Meeru programme because labour was not coming forward. ``I am ready to take anyone who comes for work.'' Rice also would be supplied to the people as wage component.

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Section  : Southern States
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