Asish Mehta
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, July 26: Commissionerate Police said it is planning to procure anti-pollution masks soon in a bid to ensure that its traffic personnel do not inhale harmful pollutants while manning traffic posts in the city.
Twin city police commissioner RP Sharma revealed this Sunday. “We are mulling to buy masks for traffic personnel. One mask can be used for a week,” Sharma said. “We will introduce the masks for traffic cops very soon. Talks are on with some firms,” Sharma added. The commissioner, however, did not reveal the names of the firms that the CP is in negotiations with for procuring the masks.
Traffic police personnel brave extreme weather conditions and inhale all kinds of harmful pollutants while on duty, with many of them suffering from a variety of diseases such as respiratory problems, heart diseases, cancer, musculo-skeletal and neurological disorders as a result of managing traffic all day, said a Commissionerate Police official.
Traffic police personnel spend hours on the road, making themselves highly vulnerable to road dust. Studies have established that road and construction dust contributes majorly to air pollution, which creates problems like eye allergy, especially during dry heat.
Earlier, capital city’s traffic ACP Jatindra Kumar Panda directed all policemen to avoid covering their faces with handkerchiefs while manning traffic posts.
Sources said twin city police commissioner RP Sharma reportedly expressed his displeasure when he saw a traffic policeman standing with a handkerchief on his face while manning a traffic post at AG Square here.