In what can be called a serious security lapse, it has been found that 32 of the 33 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters are
In what can be called a serious security lapse, it has been found that 32 of the 33 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters are not in working condition. The lapse came to light when an MNS corporator lost her purse at her party office but was unable to trace the burglar as only one CCTV camera, which was installed in front of the mayor’s cabin, is functional.
Corporator Samita Naik lost her purse on Monday and in order to trace the burglar, she went to the CCTV control room when she found only one CCTV camera is operational. The monitoring TV sets were also closed due to lack of manpower.
An MNS activist said, “When we went to check the CCTV footage, we were shocked to see that most of CCTVs are not in working condition. The BMC has a budget of over Rs 37,000 crore, but it still can’t maintain its CCTV system, which does not cost much. It means that the lives of thousands of people visiting the civic headquarters is at risk due to chinks in its security system.”
According to civic sources, the BMC headquarters is high on the radar of terror activities. To deal with this, the civic body has installed 33 CCTV cameras in the main building (a heritage structure) and annex buildings. However, only one of these cameras, which is in front of the mayor’s cabin, is working, whereas the remaining have been shut down.
In addition to this, the civic body also has seven LED televisions and three computers to keep vigil via the cameras. But they have only one person to monitor the situation through cameras, when it actually requires two.
A senior civic official admitted there was a security lapse due to “apathetic” approach of a contractor appointed earlier to maintain the system. “There was an agency named Technocrat, which was very lethargic in its approach. Despite repeated instructions, the company did not perform. Hence, we blacklisted it,” he said.
