PWD Prefer Shrubs over Flowers to Prevent Theft

The Public Works Department has decided to use more shrubs rather than flowers and to deploy Civil Defence volunteers in Delhi to prevent theft of street elements used to enhance the aesthetics of the roads. This decision comes a day after the police had to intervene after a video of two men loading their car and driving off with pots of flowers kept on the roadside in Gurgaon to beautify the city for a G20 meeting went viral.
The person who had stolen the public blooms in Gurgaon was apprehended by the authorities on Wednesday, and the flowerpots were recovered from him.

“On the city roads, we anticipated such theft of flowerpots and other street elements. According to a PWD official involved in the G20 road beautification projects, “we did not place too many small flowerpots on the central verge as a precaution and instead went with shrubs, creepers, and plants that would have to be dug out if one were to steal them.” Additionally, in order to stop people from stealing flowerpots, we have Civil Defense volunteers stationed in specific areas.

“PWD is plagued by the problem of theft,” stated another official involved in road maintenance. Electrical items, steel pipes, grilles, wires, and bulbs are stolen in almost every of our zones. Although we have placed private security guards at a number of locations, we are unable to protect every one. As part of our work to beautify National Highway 8 for the G20, we recently installed a fountain there. The theft of the water pipes and wiring for the site’s illumination occurred quickly. This way of thinking absolutely needs to change.”

In the approach the worldwide occasions in the city, PWD is making green zones and any place required, additionally setting window boxes, guaranteeing in the process that they are enormous measured and weighty and would require more noteworthy labor supply to lift and truck away.

To forestall corrupt demonstrations close to the scene where the G20 culmination will be held in September, PWD has chosen to post safety officers inside the Pragati Maidan travel burrow. On the tunnel’s sidewalls, officials had discovered attempts to steal the artwork, which consisted of mild steel structures. It is anticipated that the G20 attendees will use the tunnel to travel between India Gate, central Delhi, and the convention center.

“Certain statues that we have installed on PWD roads are so huge that they would require nothing less than a bulldozer and a hydraulic lift machine to dislodge,” a PWD official added. It is unlikely that these will be stolen. For the renovation of numerous city locations and infrastructure, the civic authorities will spend Rs 1,000 crore.