HUDA water plant security: Top cop claims staff crunch

GURGAON: Urban development authority HUDA has sent a request for police posts at both Basai and Chandu Budhera water treatment plant complexes after two boys drowned in one of the tanks of the Basai plant last month. But police commissioner, Navdeep Singh Virk said he is yet to receive the request and would anyway be unable to fulfil it due to lack of manpower.
Last month, two cousins had drowned in one of the tanks of the Basai water treatment plant after they sneaked into the complex while the guard on duty was distracted. To avoid such accidents, and because Basai plant serves as a lifeline to the city’s need for water, HUDA administrator Anita Yadav sent a request for stronger police presence at the two plants.
HUDA estate officer Om Prakash, who carried out an inquiry of the security situation in the wake of the accident at Basai said that HUDA is planning to deploy 54 guards at Basai alone instead of the present 21 guards. “Under the new security system, there will be 18 guards instead of 7, working in three shifts. This increases the number of guards to 54 instead of 21,” he said.
HUDA administrator Anita Yadav had written a letter to Virk on Wednesday seeking police security at both plants, considering they supply water a major part of the city. “The Basai plant is like the city’s lifeline as it supplies water to almost 80% of Gurgaon, including MCG areas. The security of the water treatment plant cannot be compromised as it can have an impact on the whole city,” said Yadav.
When TOI contacted Virk, he said, “I am yet to see the letter. However, even if such a request has been made, it is not possible for us to provide police force for security at the plants as we are already short of manpower. They should consider help from private security agencies.”