Crime will impact investment; Guardian Minister pulls up police

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Rising crime including murders over trivial disputes, drug trafficking, illegal sand transport, chain snatching, and open arms circulation came under sharp criticism at the district planning committee (DPC) meeting on Friday.

MLAs alleged police were focused on encroachment removal while serious crimes went unchecked. Guardian minister Sanjay Shirsat warned that unchecked crime would hurt industrial investment and directed police to act in "mission mode." The three-hour meeting at the Collector's office also saw MLAs Ambadas Danve and Prashant Bamb cite specific instances of police failures. Police Commissioner Praveen Pawar and SP Vinay kumar Rathod were present. Police said they had taken action against drug trafficking worth nearly Rs 30,000 crore in the past year and noted that over 1,500 VIP movements annually strain deployment.

A proposal was presented to integrate all city CCTV cameras with an AI-based system linked to the Smart City control room. Minister Atul Save called for EV charging infrastructure on par with Nanded's 16 stations and cited Rs 40 crore in solar energy funding for government offices. MLA Bamb suggested 20,000 government employees stay at their posting locations to cut fuel costs though the meeting itself drew ironic attention as heavy vehicle congestion outside the Collectorate undercut the fuel-saving message.

MLA Danve alleged rising sand smuggling, flawed measurement systems, and biased FIR registrations, claiming police have lost grip on crime.