The Delhi government’s proposal to buy 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras is likely to be tabled before the Cabinet for approval next week, even as a committee set up by the Lieutenant-Governor continues to seek public opinion on its draft rules for regulating CCTV systems till July 20.
Installing CCTVs across the city is one of the top priorities for the AAP dispensation. The proposal had become one of the sticking points between the elected government and Raj Niwas. The AAP government blamed L-G Anil Baijal of trying to delay the project by appointing a panel to draft rules to govern the installation, operation and monitoring of CCTV cameras in May.
After last week’s Supreme Court order on the powers of the elected government and the L-G, the Delhi government said it will go ahead with the project.
“There are still some technical issues in the proposal. But, hopefully, it will be presented in the Cabinet next week,” said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
Having floated a tender and selected a bidder, Bharat Electronics Limited, earlier this year, the government is likely to place the proposal for awarding the work to the company before the Cabinet soon.
The L-G-appointed committee, which was headed by Principal Secretary (Home) Manoj Kumar Parida, uploaded the draft Delhi Rules for Regulation of CCTV Systems in NCT of Delhi, 2018, last week seeking feedback till July 20.
The draft rules say the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Licensing) would be the appropriate authority for regulation of CCTV systems. Government sources said this could lead to a tussle between the elected government and the L-G when the cameras are installed.
