Dilli ki deewali

Security lax, markets wear deserted look Traders Claim Steps Taken By Delhi Police Inadequate, Fear Factor Keeps Shoppers Away , Air and noise pollution levels have risen over the past two years despite several measures to check them
Even as Delhi Police claims to have made elaborate arrangements in crowded areas to ensure no untoward incident takes place during the festive season, Times City visited five busy markets on Friday to find that security is lax despite the measures initiated. At the busy M Block market in Greater Kailash I, for instance, not a single policeman could be seen. There was no checking of vehicles entering the main square or parking lot. This despite the fact that there have been two explosions in the parking lot of this market last month. ‘‘I came here expecting a lot of checking, but the atmosphere seems normal. But after the blasts in the parking lot, I couldn’t get myself to park inside the market and have left the car on the main road,’’ said Tushali Sinha, a resident of East of Kailash. The situation was similar at other busy markets like Karol Bagh, where shopkeepers claimed security measures taken by the police were inadequate. ‘‘The staff appointed by Delhi Police is not sufficient. While there are four entrances to the market — from Arya Samaj Road, Padam Singh Road 1, Padam Singh Road 2 and Tank Road — only one has a metal detector. There is free movement of people from the other accesses,’’ said Om Prakash, who owns a footwear shop. The traders association has stationed privately hired guards for added safety.

The general mood in markets remained sombre as the kind of crowds usually seen during the festival time were missing on Friday. Traders remained hopeful that business would pick up over the weekend. The threat perception was evident as most markets, including Central Market in Lajpat Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Karol Bagh and even Connaught Place, remained deserted on the Friday before Diwali. ‘‘At this time of the year, there is no place to move in this market. But business has been hit very badly this year, because of all the bomb scares. We are getting barely half the normal clientele,’’ said Montu, who runs a garments store in Sarojini Nagar market.

Despite several measures adopted by the government to reduce pollution levels during Diwali, data for air and noise pollution in 2006 and 2007 show that levels have actually gone up. While adverse meteorological conditions in 2007 were cited as one reason for high air pollution levels, officials said an increase in the number of crackers burst and hardly any implementation of rules also added to the problem. According to data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), noise levels during Diwali in 2007 were ‘‘generally higher’’ than during 2006 possibly because of ‘‘bursting of increased number of crackers’’. Last year, CPCB had banned a large number of crackers which were found violating decibel level norms. Despite this, both Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and CPCB recorded higher noise levels in most areas. Sources said lack of implementation of rules was largely responsible for this. ‘‘While some crackers had been banned, it was not like they could not be purchased at all. Even then, implementation was very weak and several bombs were set off,’’ said government sources.