Chairpersons of special committees in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are fuming over the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in their new offices in the civic headquarters. Alleging that they have been installed to keep a ‘watch’ on them, the leaders have demanded that the cameras should be removed immediately and instead be installed at the cabins of top civic officials.
The BMC has undertaken a makeover of its headquarters, during which old offices of leaders, offices and committees have been removed and they have been given new offices at different places. Accordingly, offices of the municipal commissioner and standing committee chairman have already been shifted to second and first floor in the old building.
As a part of makeover, the chairpersons of six statutory committees like law, health, markets and garden, women and child welfare, works (city) and works (suburbs) have also been shifted to the first floor of the old building. However, the new offices are equipped with CCTVs.
Rajendra Suryawanshi, the chairman of works (city) committee has strongly objected to the installation of CCTV in his office. “There were no cameras in my old office. For what purpose the CCTV has been installed by the civic administration there ” he asked. They should install it in the offices of top officials like additional and deputy municipal commissioners, he added.
While the civic administration is not being able to ensure smooth operations of other CCTVs, what is their need in our offices The motive behind installation of CCTV is to keep a watch on political leaders in the BMC, the leaders have alleged.
Incidentally, it was found last month that most CCTVs in the civic headquarters were not working, highlighting a security threat to the richest civic body in the country. Only one of the 33 CCTVs was found to be operational. Taking note of this, the administration has managed to activate most of them.
