Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Rising crime in the district and city, including murders over trivial issues, drug trafficking and rampant sand smuggling, dominated discussions during the District Planning Committee (DPC) meeting on Friday.
MLAs alleged that police have time for anti-encroachment drives but are failing to control murders, illegal weapons, chain snatching and open drug sales. Expressing concern over the impact of rising crime on industrial investment, Guardian Minister Sanjay Shirsat directed the police administration to work in “action mode.” The three-hour meeting at the Collectorate saw MLAs Ambadas Danve and Prashant Bamb strongly criticise the police with specific examples. Police Commissioner Praveen Pawar and Superintendent of Police Vinaykumar Rathod were present during the discussion. The meeting was also attended by OBC Welfare Minister Atul Save, MP Kalyan Kale, MLAs Vilas Bhumre, Sanjana Jadhav and Satish Chavan, ZP president Avinash Galande, Guardian Secretary Dr Harshadeep Kamble, Collector Vinay Gowda, ZP CEO Minu P.M. and DPO Bharat Vayal.
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Action against narcotics worth Rs 30,000 crore
Police said action worth nearly Rs 30,000 crore has been taken against narcotics over the past year. Officials added that the city witnesses over 1,500 VIP movements annually, affecting manpower deployment and bandobast duties.
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AI integration for CCTV surveillance
A presentation was made on linking all city CCTV cameras with an AI-based application connected to the Smart City control room to improve urban security. When MLAs raised concerns about the Smart City project and losses in the city bus service, Municipal Commissioner Amol Yedge said the Smart City project has now been transferred to the municipal corporation and there is no shortage of funds. Shirsat added that robotic systems worth ₹500 crore would be procured for drainage cleaning.
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Push for EV charging stations
Minister Atul Save compared Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with Nanded, which has 16 EV charging stations, and said similar infrastructure should be developed in the city. He also noted that ₹40 crore has been allocated for solar energy projects in government offices.
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Suggestion to save fuel
MLA Prashant Bamb suggested that nearly 20,000 government employees, including teachers, talathis and gram sevaks, should stay at their place of posting to reduce fuel consumption. Collector Vinay Gowda said implementation orders would be issued.
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“Cases registered selectively”
MLA Ambadas Danve alleged that sand smuggling is increasing, gravel prices have risen and seized trucks are being freed illegally. He also claimed that police register cases selectively and are losing control over crime in the city.
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Hundreds of vehicles at Collectorate
Hundreds of vehicles crowded the Collectorate premises during the meeting. Ministers, MLAs, officials, supporters and party workers arrived in separate vehicles, prompting questions over how fuel-saving measures would actually be implemented.