Home Ministry overrules OC decision,to deploy NSG commandos at Village

However,there would be no deployment of Army personnel for the Games even though Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar was in favour of colonel-level officers acting as security advisors during the event. The overall security will be handled by the NSG,Delhi Police and 135 paramilitary companies.

With time running out,the Home Ministry seems to be getting the jitters in matters relating to arrangements and security. It has instructed the OC to hold trial runs for 140 buses,which will cart VVIPs to the inauguration of Games on October 3,next Sunday. As for security arrangements,the Home Ministry has put its foot down and asked the authorities concerned to hurry up.

However,fact remains that despite the issuance of clear instructions that all the 17 stadiums should be sealed two months before the Games to ensure that anti-sabotage tests are conducted,the organisers are hoping that the deadline for handover would be postponed to September 1. Basic CCTV cabling for security is still not complete,and has already missed the April 30 deadline.

Sources said CCTVs at sensitive locations in each stadium were to be integrated with the main control room at the venue,and linked with the main control room at the ITO police headquarters. However,instead of hastening the work,the DDA added to the confusion by stating that it would not need CCTVs after the Games are over.

The issue relating to security passes for some 30,000 personnel involved in logistics is also raising serious concerns among agencies as only 7,000 passes have been issued and a last-minute rush,which may lead to inadequate security barriers,is expected.

Though the Centre has asked all the agencies concerned to put their best foot forward for the Games,there is hardly any coordination between the OC and the government agencies. The OC had told the Home Ministry that it would not provide food or basic toilet amenities to the police and para-military personnel posted at Games venue — giving a clear hint that it wants the guards to fend for themselves. Despite Delhi Police Commissioner YS Dadwal taking up the issue with the OC,the latter did not budge from its position. It was only after the Home Ministry intervened that the committee decided to back down.

The Home Ministry is also concerned about a huge aerostat balloon that is being imported from England and would be used by the OC during the laser show at the inauguration ceremony of the event. Weighing a couple of tonnes and tethered to the ground with metal wires,the aerostat balloon has still not been tested as trial runs in the UK failed last month due to heavy rains.