Delhi Government defends move to install CCTVs

New Delhi: The Delhi Government on Monday said that ill-informed doubts are being spread that the CCTV cameras installation could lead to breach of privacy and alarming terms like “surveillance” have been linked to this project without any basis and evidence.

In a statement, the AAP-led government said, “Attention of the elected Delhi government has been drawn towards certain views expressed in public domain about the ongoing preparation for the installation of CCTV cameras to ensure safety and security of the residents of the national capital.”

In case of CCTV cameras in residential areas project, it has, however, been noticed that vested interests are making desperate attempts to spread misinformation through a motivated campaign, giving rise to reasonable suspicion that big private players, who have lost the tender bid to a public sector enterprise could be behind the entire mischief.

“The Delhi government is of the clear view that ensuring safety and security of citizens the primary responsibility of any government elected by the people with hope, it is not fair when the residents have to spend their own money on installing basic safety devices like CCTVs and it should be the government’s duty,” it added.  

It added that to confuse the citizens, they are being told that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is required for the CCTV installation. “Wherever CCTV cameras have been installed in NDMC residential areas and through MLA Local Area Development Funds in different areas of Delhi, there has not been a single complaint on privacy concerns, since these CCTV cameras are installed in public places and not in private premises, said the government.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Congress on Monday urged lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal to initiate a CBI probe into the Rs 571 crore project for installation of CCTV cameras across the national capital. A party delegation led by state unit head Ajay Maken met the L-G and submitted him a memorandum.alleging that the AAP government had inflated the tender amount from Rs 130 crore to Rs 571 crore to favour Chinese government company Hikvision, which was taken on board by the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) as its vending partner  after the first tender was rejected.