Sri Sri event: Delhi Police prepares status report; steps up security
New Delhi: A day before the controversy-ridden World Culture Festival kicks off, Delhi Police on Thursday prepared a status report and listed several shortcomings in the arrangements for the mega event that is being organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living foundation.
Security arrangements for the event were heightened on Thursday with all 11 police districts and several specialised units roped in amidst an uncertainty regarding the total footfall which the three-day event would witness.
Police are also charting out a traffic plan to make sure that arterial roads in the national capital are not clogged during the event.
Police on Thursday again inspected the venue and prepared a status report that was submitted to a Joint Secretary-rank official in charge of supervising the security arrangements, a senior official said.
A lack of direction boards, no fencing on the path leading to the venue, especially from Gates Nos 10, 11, which are to be opened for general public, and inadequate CCTV cameras are some of the shortcomings listed in the status report, the official said, adding these matters have been communicated to the organisers.
The report contains dozens of photographs of the site for the event on the Yamuna floodplains and also highlights the absence of fencing and barricading on the pontoon bridges (floating bridges) constructed there despite several reminders to the organisers, the senior official said.
A meeting chaired by the Special Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) was held at the venue today and security for the event was further stepped up.
Around 6,000 personnel from all 11 districts of Delhi Police and its specialised units like the the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and Special Cell will be deployed at the World Culture Festival. A special police control room would also be set up to ensure round-the-clock monitoring.
At least 1,500 officials along with a team of Eagle Commandos will be present at the venue. Another 500 will be pressed into service in and outside the hotel where the dignitaries, guests and artistes will stay.
