Union Home Secy, state officials review security

Tribune News Service

Sultanpur Lodhi , October 14

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla today reviewed the security arrangements at Sultanpur Lodhi for the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, along with a high-level delegation of officials from the state government under the leadership of Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Suresh Kumar and Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta.

During the visit to the tent city, near Machijova village, the Union Home Secretary minutely reviewed the security preparations along with the arrangements for arrival of VVIPs from across the country. He also visited the banks of the holy Bein where the Chief Principal Secretary apprised him of the development projects of Rs 400 crore initiated by the state government to mark the historic event.

Keeping in view a higher footfall in the town from November 1 onwards, the Union Home Secretary also visited parking sites. He asked the officials to ensure foolproof security for pilgrims by adopting least restriction policy.

The DGP informed the Home Secretary that the Punjab Police had divided the whole area into 15 sectors where nine huge parking lots were established to facilitate the pilgrims. He said the security arrangements had already been made by the police and nearly 5,000 police personnel would be deployed during functions.

Earlier, they also paid obeisance at Gurdwara Ber Sahib. ADGP Ishwar Singh, Deputy Commissioner DPS Kharbanda, IG Naunihal Singh and SSP Satinder Singh were among those others present.

CM to dedicate Rs 400-cr projects to people

Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Suresh Kumar said today that Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh would dedicate development projects worth Rs 400 crore to people on October 23. Besides, he would lay the foundation stone of the ‘Guru Nanak Marg’ from Sultanpur Lodhi to Dera Baba Nanak via Kapurthala-Subhanpur-Beas-Batala.

He said as over 60 lakh persons were expected to visit the holy city, the state government had made elaborate arrangements to facilitate them. Suresh Kumar asked police officials to put minimum restrictions on pilgrims as the event would be a lifetime opportunity for them.

The Chief Principal Secretary ordered the district administration to ensure uniformity in signage installed at various places to avoid any inconvenience to devotees. He also asked the Deputy Commissioner to ensure publication of a pocket-size directory having the deployment plan of officials for better communication.

Suresh Kumar also asked officials from the Transport Department to deploy e-rickshaws in advance keeping in view the large footfall of the pilgrims. He asked the Drainage Department to expedite the work as 500 cusecs of water would be released in the holy Bein to ensure its beautification.