Noida: A park in the heart of Sector 19, which has become a hub of illegal activities, will now be under continuous police surveillance after the local post-in-charge adopted it under a new safety initiative.
Park Adoption Initiative
Police in Sector 19 have adopted the C Block park near Sanatan Dharma temple following complaints of anti-social activity and drug use. The move follows a meeting between GB Nagar police commissioner Lakshmi Singh and the Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Associations, where she directed officers to coordinate with resident associations and adopt a park each in their areas to ward off drug users and anti-social elements.
Resident Concerns
RC Gupta, the RWA president of the sector, said, “There have been thefts in the area, and anti-social elements often set up bases in the parks. They use drugs, drink alcohol and often tease women passing by.” He added that fencing of the park has come off in several areas, allowing criminals to gain easy entry. Gupta said sub-inspector Rahul Sharma, the sector’s post-in-charge, agreed to adopt the park after a recent meeting.
Police Monitoring
Last week, Sharma inspected the park alongside RWA members and assured continued monitoring. “Continuous surveillance will be maintained over this park and other community spaces. This initiative aims to deter anti-social and criminal activities for a safer environment for residents in the area,” he said. He also addressed security guards and supervisors deployed by the RWA. Sector 19 police post in charge directed the sector guards to conduct continued surveillance of parks and other community spaces in the sector.
Broader Context
TOI earlier reported how several parks and green belts across the city have been encroached upon, reduced to dumping grounds for horticulture waste and construction debris due to a lack of maintenance. In Sector 44, a local park overtaken by encroachers has turned into a hub of criminal activity and unhygienic conditions.
Future Plans
With Sector 19 setting the precedent, residents’ associations in other parts of the city are expected to take up similar initiatives in the coming weeks, coordinating with local police posts to identify and adopt parks vulnerable to crime.
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