New Delhi, March 9: The Delhi Police has warned of “stampede”, “pandemonium” and “utter chaos” unless shortcomings in the arena for the World Culture Festival, being organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation on the Yamuna floodplains, are attended to immediately.
In a letter to the Ministry of Urban Development after an inspection of the venue, along with the organisers, on March 1, police redflagged the “shortcomings”, saying the stage, where the Prime Minister and several VVIPs are to be seated, lacks a structural stability certificate, a prerequisite for any such gathering.
It warned of the possibility of “pandemonium which is bound to result in utter chaos leading to total breakdown of law and order”.
The Central Public Works Department, Delhi government and Delhi Development Authority — the DDA — granted permission for the event — have refused to give the festival stage the mandatory structural stability certificate, police wrote to the Ministry.
On Tuesday, the Centre also issued an advisory to police, asking it to take adequate measures to prevent any stampede-like situation at the festival venue.
The police inspection team observed a huge stage being constructed at the venue for performances by artists — nearly 36,000 artists, according to the Art of Living.
“The Prime Minister’s security wing of Delhi Police had taken up the matter with the CPWD to give structural stability certificate, but they have refused to give them the certificate, saying they should take up the matter with the Delhi PWD or DDA for such certification. But it has been learnt that even the Delhi PWD and DDA are not willing to give any kind of certification to them,” police said.
