Govt failed to heed advice on CCTV cameras: Lok Satta

Had the Government heeded the Lok Satta suggestion made in May 2013 and installed CCTV cameras, the atrocity on software employee Abhaya could have been prevented, said Mr. Dosapati Ramu, President, Greater Hyderabad Lok Satta Party.

In a media statement, he recalled that in a representation to Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, the Lok Satta suggested that the State Government foot the bill for CCTV cameras and seek reimbursement from the Union Government later. The State Government had sought Rs.450 crore from Delhi for installation of 3500 cameras when Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh visited Dilsukhnagar in the city in the wake of bomb blasts. The State Government could have at least asked legislators to allocate money from their constituency development fund towards purchase of cameras.

The representation drew the Chief Minister’s attention to the fact that there were only 370 CCTV cameras in the jurisdiction of the Hyderabad Police Commissioner and 51 in the jurisdiction of the Cyberabad Police Commissioner. Of them, 34 in Hyderabad and all the 51 in Cyberabad were dysfunctional. And not a new camera was installed in 2011, 2012 and till May 2013.

Mr. Ramu said in his statement that the Lok Satta would fight for protection of women and prevent atrocities against them. The State Government had failed in the discharge of its primary duty of maintaining law and order and ensuring rule of law.