The Delhi government has directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to begin the work on the mass installation of CCTV cameras across the national Capital. “The PWD has been given a week’s time to submit the proposal. We want to start with the installation process at the earliest,” said a Delhi government official. The installation of CCTV cameras in Delhi was one of the key electoral planks of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2015 to improve the security and safety of the citizens.
The national Capital so far has at least 2.5 lakh CCTV cameras in public areas, the number which AAP plans to increase by 1.4 lakh. The project has been a bone of contention between the AAP government and the Lieutenant-Governor. Recently, a committee formed by L-G recommended that the Delhi Police will be the custodian of the CCTV cameras installed in public areas. However, the government has refuted all such claims.
Kejriwal, however, in a dramatic action, tore down the report prepared by the L-G in front of the residents during a public meet organised by the government to seek suggestions on the installation of the CCTV cameras. “BJP was not letting us install the CCTV cameras in the capital. Through L-G, they have deferred the project several times that lead to delay in the installation. In their recent attempt, L-G formed a committee with the police and released a report that said CCTV installation would need a license from the police. When police are so unreliable in the issue of other licenses, including arms, can we trust them with these licenses?,” he said
