Letter to CM on "The Security Threat to Hyderabad"

The following is the text of the representation submitted to the Cheif Minister of Andhra Pradesh Mr. N. Kiran Kumar Reddy by Lok Satta Party leaders on "the security threat to Hyderabad", at the Secretariat today (May 29, 2013).

Sri N. Kiran Kumar Reddy
Hon'ble Chief Minister
Govt. of Andhra Pradesh
Hyderabad

Dear Sir:

Let us on behalf of the Lok Satta Party bring to your attention that neither the Hyderabad police nor the National Investigative Agency has made any breakthrough in identifying the perpetrators of the bomb blasts at Dilsukhnagar in Hyderabad even nearly 100 days after the suspected terrorist attack.

One of the reasons for the failure of our investigative agencies is the absence of a wide and effective CCTV network in a growing metropolis like Hyderabad.

Our inquiries through the Right to Information reveal that there are just 370 CCTV cameras in areas under the jurisdiction of the Hyderabad Police Commissioner and 51 in areas under the jurisdiction of the Cyberabad Police Commissioner. Of them, 34 cameras in Hyderabad and all the 51 in Cyberabad are dysfunctional. Not a single camera was installed in the years 2011, 2012 and so far during 2013.

According to press reports, the Government of Andhra Pradesh had estimated that Hyderabad would require 3000 CCTV cameras. In fact during the Biodiversity Conference in 2012, the Hyderabad police had sought Rs.300 crore for installation of 3000 cameras.

The Andhra Pradesh Government requested the Prime Minister, who visited Hyderabad in the wake of the Dilsukhnagar blasts, to sanction Rs.450 crore for installation of 3500 CCTV cameras.

We are sorry that there has been no progress in installation of cameras anywhere in Hyderabad since the Dilsukhnagar blasts.

In stark contrast, the Maharahstra Government is going ahead with installation of a large CCTV network at a cost of Rs.864 crore in the wake of the serial blasts that rocked Mumbai.

We need not overemphasize the importance of a CCTV network in all public places in deterring crime and identifying culprits. Within 48 hours of a bomb blast in Boston, the US authorities could nail down the culprits based on CCTV surveillance. And in the latest instance, CCTV surveillance has brought to light the betting going on in IPL cricket in India.

We request you to expedite installation of a CCTV network without further delay considering that Hyderabad has become a destination of choice for terrorists. The State Government with an annual budget of nearly Rs.1.5 lakh crore can afford to spend funds from its own budget for the network and seek reimbursement from the Center subsequently.

Sincerely yours,

Katari Srinivasa Rao,
State President,
Lok Satta Party

D.Lakshmi,
Vice President,
Lok Satta Party

N.Ravinder
Secretary,
Lok Satta Party

G. Venugopal
Secretary,
Lok Satta Party, GHMC