Citizens miffed with Delhi government, L-G Anil Baijal over delay in CCTV installation

As the tussle between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi Government and Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal continues over the installation of CCTV cameras in the national capital, the citizens are disappointed and want the deadlock to end at the earliest. The installation of CCTV cameras in Delhi was one of the key electoral planks of the AAP in 2015 to improve citizens' safety.

The issue has surfaced several times over the last three years as the installation of cameras remains an unfulfilled poll promise. It again grabbed headlines recently as the AAP started protesting against the L-G's alleged intervention in the matter.

"As a woman, I don't feel safe in Delhi. More CCTV cameras would be really helpful to keep a check on crimes and identify criminals," said Soumya Johri, a resident of Dwarka. Johri said the ongoing tussle was serving no purpose and should end at the earliest. "The interests of citizens should be the priority, not the interests of politicians."

As the crime rate in Delhi shows no signs of declining, people have become critical of the delay in installation.

"CCTV cameras should be installed at the earliest across Delhi to keep a check on various kinds of crimes that go on routinely," said JR Gupta, president of the Senior Citizens Council of Delhi and a resident of Safdarjung Enclave. "The ongoing tussle between the Delhi Government and the LG is very unfortunate and it should be resolved soon. As citizens, we have nothing to do with their internal differences and yet it is the public who suffer from such incidents."

Some Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) are not waiting for the government's help. The Nehru Nagar RWA in south Delhi is one such body. It has installed cameras on its own to secure the area.

"But there are many problems in doing that. Collection of funds is a big challenge as many households refuse to give money. Also, some of those who contribute to the funds later allege financial mishandling," said Kailash Keswani, president of the Nehru Nagar RWA. Keswani believes the installation is the government's responsibility. "The government is supposed to ensure security, not the citizens," he said.

While most agree the installation is a job that the government must do, they are, however, ready to maintain the camderas once the system is installed.

"If we can put up a few cameras by collecting money, we can maintain them as well since it is much cheaper. We just want the government to install the cameras in consultation with us. We are ready to look after them," said Anand Kambuj, president of the Bungalow Road- Jawahar Nagar Traders Association in north Delhi.

Kambuj's views are also echoed by others. Prem Deep, president of the Freedom Fighters Enclave at Neb Sarai, said that they had been repeatedly asking the government to install the cameras and leave the maintenance to the RWA. "We already have a control room for a few cameras. So once the new cameras are installed, we can easily maintain them," Deep added.

'JUST SET IT UP, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT'

• Installation of CCTV cameras was AAP’s key electoral plank in 2015 to improve citizens’ safety.
   
• Recently, AAP started protesting L-G’s alleged intervention in the matter.
   
• Citizens believe that the installation of the cameras is the government’s job.
   
• Some are, however, ready to maintain it once the system is set up.