Making the most of a bad deal

SURAT, Jan 17: If the meeting of Class I officers of the Dangs district on Saturday was any indication -- and should the announcements ma...

SURAT, Jan 17: If the meeting of Class I officers of the Dangs district on Saturday was any indication — and should the announcements made at the meeting come to fruition — the recent trouble in the tribal district could well be a blessing in disguise.

At least, that is what government sources claim. The meeting identified lack of drinking water, health facilities and employment opportunities and irregular power supply as the major drawbacks of the district. As remedies, the officers suggested introducing water harvesting, mobile dispensaries and agro-based industries.

Since a major chunk of the area is under forest cover, the meeting also decided to seek help of the Forest department in providing employment to locals. A senior government officer, who attended the meeting, said the idea was to make the most of the attention the district has got.

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Meanwhile, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the district on Sunday. District Superintendent of Police Manoj Sashidhar said the police were still on alert and intensively patrolling the area. The police was on extra alert on Sunday, when Christians offer prayers.

Sashidhar said the police had started screening the visitors to the district over the past couple of days. All vehicles, including the buses run by Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation, are being checked at the Waghai check post. Everybody — including journalists and government officials — are being asked questions and told to write down their names at the Waghai police chowky.