New Delhi, Sep 7: Delhi Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday stressed that the city police should safeguard assets created and upgraded for the G20 Summit and ensure these are not stolen or damaged after the key meeting.
In a telephonic interview to PTI, the senior AAP leader said that for such events, proper planning has to be done so that people are not inconvenienced.
“It is good that such events are being held in Delhi. But there is a caveat. For the last 10 days, people are facing traffic jams. If you want the support of people for such events, it has to be ensured that they are not inconvenienced. There should be proper planning by Delhi Police and its traffic unit for it,” he said.
The minister said that Delhi was “choked” even before the summit, which is not a good precedent.
“Even internal roads connected to main roads were barricaded and there were no signages to inform people about them. People came on those roads, saw barricades and then had to take a U-turn, which led to jams. Better planning was needed and LG sir should have ensured it,” he said, in an apparent dig at Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena.
Bharadwaj also noted that nearly 90 per cent of the police personnel from police stations were deployed for security during the G20 Summit.
“I feel that CISF, ITBP should have been deployed for security purposes since other things that happen in police districts like vehicle thefts, fights between neighbours, street crimes will continue to happen causing inconvenience to people,” he said.
In the lead-up to the summit, various agencies have installed artefacts, plants, fountains and sculptures to add an aesthetic look to the national capital.
Bharadwaj said that Delhi Police has to ensure strict action against those who steal or tamper with the assets that have been created in Delhi for the summit.
“The PWD has made its policy for watch and ward for such assets. There are expensive lights that have been installed, sculptures made from metal and scrap. Although security guards have been deployed, the police have the job of enforcement and their safety. We need support from Delhi Police. LG sir has to ensure that police ensures their security,” he said.
The minister also recalled that after the Commonwealth Games, people were seen taking away plants.
“It has to be ensured that people do not vandalise or damage them. Police do not prosecute such people and there is no fear. If police arrest people and file cases, there will be some deterrent,” he noted.
In the run-up to the summit, there has been a controversy over allocation of funds for the beautification of Delhi.
Union minister Meenakashi Lekhi on Monday claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government did nothing for Delhi’s development in its nine-year rule and it was the Centre that bore almost all the expenses for G20 Summit preparations in the city. (PTI)
