Terror blasts kill innocents even as cops make tall claims. Yet, investigative agencies meet the dead end while probing spiteful bloodbaths. Bureaucracy and government seem to be lost in the world of enticements while terror elements thrive on ruthless killings. CCTV cameras installed in the city tell us a disturbing story
The News Bureau
Officers who have been investigating the twin bomb blasts that rocked Hyderabad city on February 21 seem
According to experts, had there been enough number of CCTV cameras with ample power backup installed in key points, the Dilsukhnagar bomb blast case would have come to a logic end by this time.
And, the fact about the cameras is disturbing. In less than one year, the number of CCTV cameras proposed to be installed in Hyderabad and Cyberabad police limits has drastically come down.
It may be recalled that following communal tensions in April last year, state police proposed to install as many as 5,000 CCTV cameras – 3,000 in Hyderabad and 2,000 in Cyberabad areas.
Both the Director General of Police (DGP) V Dinesh Reddy and the then city police commissioner A K Khan along with other officials boasted of this many
Sadly, a year later, and that too after the February 21 twin blasts that killed 16 people and left over 100 injured, the number of cameras proposed to be installed has come down to 3,500. City Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma told reporters that the number has been readjusted after thorough study of the actual requirement. Of the 3,500 cameras, little over 2,000 cameras would be exclusively installed in Hydreabad police limits, he said.
A project report has been sent to the government citing an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore for the entire process of purchasing and installing CCTV cameras. “We are waiting for government’s approval and allocation of funds to execute the project,” Sharma said.
Asked whether the new cameras would be dedicated for security purpose, Anurag Sharma said adequate number of cameras would be dedicated for security purposes while others would be used for multiple purposes – to monitor and regulate traffic and also for security purpose.
“We are also modifying the programme in the existing cameras to use them for both traffic and security purposes,” he said. Anurag Sharma admitted that only a few of the existing CCTV cameras were provided with power backup while rest of the cameras does not work during power cut. He also said CCTV footage would be monitored from the main police control room and zonal control rooms would be set up if necessary.
Since the installation of proposed CCTV cameras take time, managements of malls, commercial complexes and traders had been asked to install their own CCTV cameras. There has been very good response for the appeal, the police commissioner said.
As many as 130 CCTV cameras in west zone, 89 cameras in central zone and 16 cameras in north zone had been newly installed by the traders as a result of the awareness p
No power, no CCTV cameras
Despite tall claims by the city police, none of the 355 CCTV cameras installed works during power cuts since there is no backup system for the cameras unlike the traffic signals being installed currently.
The cameras cover a distance of about 3000 yards and roam 180 degrees, but they do not work during power cuts rendering the CCTV system useless for security purposes, an official well acquainted with the setup told The News.
In fact, the city police are lagging behind in use of technology which is evident from the fact that power backup has not been provided for the CCTV cameras while the new traffic signals being installed are provided with four hours backup.
Besides, independent solar energy systems are being installed at each signal post to provide backup of two more hours thereby taking the total backup of six hours, the official said.
Further, as many as 225 CCTV cameras were installed some years ago and many of them frequently malfunction due to lack of proper maintenance.
Above all, three different agencies including the BSNL have been assigned with annual maintenance of the cameras while traffic police have to coordinate with the APCPDCL for power supply to the cameras. The BSNL is also responsible for providing internet connection for the cameras.
Since the city police are completely dependent on these departments to ensure functioning of the cameras, it has become almost impossible to keep the cameras functioning. Added to this, the state government does not release funds to pay the bills towards annual maintenance and power charges due to which the cameras stop functioning, the official said.
Unless sophisticated cameras were installed with power backup facility and a sound technical wing created in the police department, it would be of no use having the cameras and criminals continue to execute their plans such as the recent bomb blasts in Dilsukhnagar, the official said.