Govt assures security for PSUs, private companies

The Government on Monday assured public sector undertakings and private companies that it would provide ample security and do everything possible to safeguard their strategic installations from terrorist attacks.

At a meeting of CEOs of public and private enterprises, mainly in the oil sector, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and senior officials of the ministry discussed the threat perceptions to important industrial establishments in the country. The industrial houses were even briefed by Intelligence Bureau officials on how to secure their installations from possible terrorist strikes, sources said. The meeting comes in the wake of demands from many industrial units for Government security for establishments, which are vital for the country8217;s strategic interests. Many private companies have argued that like PSUs, their installations can also be guarded by the Central Industrial Security Force CISF. However, such a move will require an amendment of the law. The Government told the companies that it was as concerned about the security of their installations as they themselves and was working towards developing an effective security network for such installations.