Ordinance to provide CISF cover to private industries

NEW DELHI: The government on Friday decided to promulgate an ordinance enabling the private sector to avail of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) cover to guard against terror attacks on industrial houses. Cabinet meeting, chaired by prime minister Manmohan Singh, gave its nod to bring in an ordinance to this effect, science and technology minister Kapil Sibal said.

Corporate houses including Tata and Reliance Industries have sought CISF cover for their offices and factories. The companies would have to pay for getting the security cover. "The Tatas, Oberois, Infosys and the Jamnagar Refineries (Reliance) have approached me (for CISF cover)," home minister P Chidambaram had said on Wednesday.

The ordinance has been necessitated following the Mumbai terror attacks, wherein hotels and other places of importance were targeted. Till now, CISF cover was available only to public sector units and installations like airports.The government has already introduced a Bill in Rajya Sabha to amend the CISF Act. However, it could not be passed.