Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal on Sunday wrote to Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal saying that it was “unfortunate” that the public and the media were being deliberately “misled” that the L-G was delaying the AAP government’s CCTV project.
The L-G’s response came after Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced that the CM and all AAP MLAs would walk to the L-G House on May 14 seeking nod for CCTV cameras to be installed in the city.
Award of work
“No proposal relating to award of work for installation of CCTV cameras has been received in the office of the L-G. It has been learnt that a Cabinet Note on the issue of award of work for installation of CCTV cameras by PWD is yet to be circulated. So the matter is pending with the elected government only. No directions have been issued by this office to stall or stop the award of work for CCTV tender,” the Mr Baijal said.
He said that while the elected government has been talking about installation of CCTVs for the last three years without much concrete progress, more than two lakh cameras have already been installed in the city by the Delhi Police, DMRC, DDA, local bodies, market associations and RWAs.
He pointed out that these cameras were being used without any Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and regulatory framework. “Uncontrolled and unregulated mushrooming of CCTVs does not lead to any effective outcome for security and law enforcement and it may encroach upon the privacy of individuals. So to use these cameras effectively for law enforcement, prevention of crime and investigation, an SOP/regulatory framework for CCTVs is imperative,” wrote the L-G.
He said that a committee has been set up to frame comprehensive rules, policies and procedures for installation, operation and monitoring of CCTVs in public places for public safety and law enforcement and to prevent CCTVs from becoming a tool to violate privacy of individuals and ensure clear responsibility and accountability for all surveillance camera system activities. “The order setting up the committee nowhere directs that the work of award of CCTV cameras by elected government be stalled,” read L-G’s letter.
