After the two-day G20 Summit in Delhi, the national capital, there have been recorded cases of theft and damage involving artefacts placed throughout the city for aesthetic purposes. Numerous reports of missing flower pots, rubber nozzles, wiring, and broken lights have been confirmed by police, with a noticeable concentration of occurrences taking place in the New Delhi district.
The Public Works Department (PWD) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) placed statues, fountains, lighting, and other important equipment as part of the beautifying efforts covering Bharat Mandapam and Lutyens’ Delhi.
In a report by Indian Express, sources claimed that after the G20 Summit, decorative pots that had been placed at ITO and Rajghat had either been taken or damaged. As they stated, “While a few pots were stolen, others were damaged or found lying flat with flowers and mud on the road.”
NDMC established a special committee to guard against theft
On Monday, September 25, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) established a special committee to guard against theft and vandalism as part of preventive steps to safeguard the assets built up during the G20 Summit. Satish Upadhyay, the vice-chairman of the NDMC, claims that this committee is in charge of watching over the careful maintenance of 70 fountains, with two executive engineers responsible for managing 35 fountains each.
“These engineers have been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the proper maintenance and functionality of these iconic fountains. NDMC has also renewed the annual maintenance contract for these fountains within its jurisdiction,” according to Upadhyay, who was reported by PTI.
A total of 441 CCTV cameras have been installed by the NDMC throughout its area of responsibility, all of which are integrated through a Command and Control Centre, strengthening its security measures even more. The effective operation of NDMC services is crucially dependent on these CCTV cameras.
According to PTI, NDMC has established a high-level committee with the job of monitoring and administering the works undertaken during the G20 Summit in order to efficiently oversee and manage all G20-related projects and initiatives. Public Works Department (PWD) officials acknowledged that there had been a few minor instances of electrical device theft at certain places, but they said that these incidences did not call for the filing of formal complaints.
Upadhyay added, “There has been theft of a nozzle from a fountain installed near Nigambodh Ghat. There have been instances of lights being stolen at some locations. We cannot comment on pots, as numerous pots were placed. The PWD has relocated several pots to ease footpath congestion and transferred them to nurseries, making it challenging to determine whether any pots were stolen,” according to PTI.
It was confirmed by a senior police officer from the New Delhi area that there had been no formal complaints of theft events. The report said that he also added that due to the district’s strategic location within Delhi, security precautions were still in place.
In order to provide a flawless event for the 40 heads of state and countless dignitaries in attendance, the G20 Summit, which was held from September 7 to 10, required substantial coordination across many different organisations.
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