Delhi govt to finish installation of CCTV project by December: Official
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has started its work on the CCTV installation at every assembly constituency which was stalled due to the Model Code of Conduct. Sources in the Delhi government said that CM Arvind Kejriwal directed the concerned authorities to finish the work in priority. "The work on CCTV installation was stalled at many places due to the Model of Conduct. We wanted to continue the work but the Election Commission did not allow," said a senior official of the Delhi government.
He also said that before the election, the work got momentum but the work was stopped because of the poll code. "On the first day of the review meeting, the Delhi Chief Minister directed that we have to finish the work on a priority basis and we have started the work," said the official. He also said that as per the direction the Delhi government will have to finish the work before 2020. "The CM has made it clear that despite various problems the work of the CCTV is finally going smoothly and the government should finish the work by the end of this year," he said.
The official added that the Delhi government is also coordinating with the local MLAs and the RWA representatives to find out the spots where the CCTVs should be installed. "As per plan the MLAs and the RWAs are helping us in this work and we are sure that we will not face any further hurdle in the matter. Once all the spots are finalised then it would not take much time to finish the work," said the official.
This was one of the important poll promises of AAP. Three-hundred CCTV cameras have been installed in some select areas to check if the specifications and peformance match the requirements. The spots have been selected according to suggestions received from the residents. It was in November last year that all departmental approvals were given for the Rs 571-crore project. The cameras are being installed according to the standard operating procedure worked out by the AAP government.
When implementation of the scheme is complete, 1.4 lakh cameras –2000 in each of the 70 assembly constituencies –would have been installed. The recordings will be accessible to RWAs, police and government. Residents have reacted positively to the move. The AAP government had given its in-principle approval to the CCTV project in October 2015. The project had led to several flashpoints between the elected government and the LG over the proposed regulatory framework to guide their installation. The LG had in May formed a panel headed by the secretary, home, to develop the framework. This panel was accused by the chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, of being "specifically formed to stall the CCTV project."
