Security concerns are forcing Delhi Police to clamp down on Diwali melas and bazaars this festive season. Most organisers are finding it difficult to meet the stringent regulations drawn up by the police, keeping in mind the recent blasts. Due to the mandatory security guidelines this year, several Diwali melas in South and Central Delhi have been cancelled.

These include the famous melas of Sundar Nagar, GK-II, Vasant Vihar, Karol Bagh and Defence Colony. The police have drawn up a list of musts for Diwali melas, which include adequate and secure parking space, a fence around pandals of a height set by the police, CCTV surveillance, metal detectors at entry and exit points, the use of non-inflammable material at the melas and adequate deployment of security. In addition, only a fixed number of stalls would be allowed, as per the availability of space.

“Security arrangements are necessary and mela organisers will have to adhere to them,” said Delhi Police spokesman Rajan Bhagat.

A number of RWAs have called off the event deterred by the list of prerequisites.

“It is better to take necessary precautions rather than taking a risk. In addition, since the response of customers in other markets and melas seems to be lukewarm, we have decided to cancel the mela this year,” said Atul Bhargava of the Sunder Nagar Resident Welfare Association.(RWA).

The mela organised by the Defence Colony RWA has met a similar fate, with permission to hold the mela being denied to the organisers this year. “While the mela has become increasingly popular over the last few years, the security parameters this year could not be met by us,” said Harjeet Singh, president of the A-Block RWA.

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