In many posh markets, CCTVS defunct for last several years

NEW DELHI: The Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras play an important role to curb crime in the city as there are several cases where the presence of the device helps police in solving the incidents. The crimeprone areas under the CCTVS, also known as the third eye, have a psychological effect on criminals and therefore, serve as a deterrent but what if it is not working.

The Delhi Police data claimed that in many posh areas and markets, CCTV cameras are non-functional for last several years.

The data accessed by the

claimed that more than 100 cameras which are not working in the three important markets in Southern Range of Delhi police. "In one of the market which comes under South-east Delhi since 2016, the 30 cameras are out of order. However, the Delhi Police held several meetings in the district and in the police headquarter as well in this regard. The private

Millennium Post

company who installed the device was told to submit actual damage report for further action to restore the cameras but they have not submitted the report till date," said a police source adding that over 40 CCTV cameras were installed on hiring basis for the purpose of Independence Day 2018 in the market.

Another market which comes under South Delhi jurisdiction has 25 CCTV cameras out of order. As informed by the SHO of the area to his senior officers, due to the technical problems, they (cameras) are not working properly. Overall in the Southern Range, 299 cameras which are installed in busy markets and other strategic locations are non-functional.

Sources claimed that in another market in South East Delhi, 60 cameras are not functional out of which 12 of them were removed due to DMRC work. While, 48 CCTV still not working since long and many times they have been repaired but due to the technical fault, some of them are out of order.

"A meeting in this regard was held in June this year between the district's senior officer and the companies to restore the non-functional cameras as well as re-install the 12 CCTV cameras, which were removed due to DMRC work and to repair the non-functional cameras," sources said adding that 100 CCTVS were installed during I-day 2018.

In one such case, police also found that six cameras in Kalindi Kunj area were not working from the last two years and the reason behind it, was the damage by some unknown third party, however, efforts were made to identify them but no clue has been found so far.

In a case of a flyover, working cameras went out of order due to digging.

Many cameras were installed from MP Fund and they are functional. The Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik focussed on community policing which play an important role in curbing crime. One such initiative is Nigehban scheme. Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range) Devesh Srivastava told Millennium Post that Nigheban play an effective role and due to the effort of Delhi Police many RWAS and MWAS installed CCTV cameras.

According to a senior officer in the Delhi Police, under the Nigehban scheme, they have surveyed all important locations of the city and drawn a list of sensitive areas which require CCTV monitoring.

RWAS and MWAS have been requested to install CCTV cameras at identified spots by pooling their resources.in 2017, the scheme was carried out successfully and the number of CCTV cameras under this scheme has risen to 2,13,703," said senior officer.

Over two lakh CCTV cameras have been installed under Delhi Police’s community policing