Date:03/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010360471400.htm

National

Ordinance to amend CISF Act

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday decided to promulgate an ordinance to amend the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Act to enable the private sector to avail of CISF cover to guard against terror attacks on industrial houses. The security would be provided on payment.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters here.

Several corporate houses, including Tata and Oberoi, whose hotels were attacked in Mumbai, have sought CISF cover for their offices and factories. Similar requests were made earlier by Infosys and Jamnagar Refineries of Reliance Industries.

The ordinance was necessitated following the Mumbai attacks in which hotels and other places of importance were targeted.

Till now, CISF cover was available only to public sector units and installations such as airports.

The details of the payment would be worked out soon, Mr. Sibal said.