To check crime, civic body floats tenders for 49 CCTV cameras in West constituency

Ludhiana: Keeping in view security concerns raised by the residents of West constituency, the civic body, on the recommendation of area councillors, is planning to install close circuit television (CCTV) cameras. For this purpose tenders have been floated and after hiring a contractor, work will start. The councillors claimed that they had received requests from the public that cameras were required at certain points so that they should keep an eye on the movement of outsiders in the colonies.The cameras are proposed in ward No. 56 (seven cameras), one block of ward No. 57, J and HJ block of ward No. 58, ward No. 60, Kitchlu Nagar in ward No. 63, social and public places in ward No. 65, New Model Town, Gandhi Colony in ward No. 72 and areas of ward No. 73. As many as a total of 49 cameras are proposed in these areas.The officials claimed that they had floated the tenders as the councillors had asked for CCTVs in their areas. Interestingly, the tenders are floated for eight wards out of which two councillors are from the opposition while six are from the ruling party.Executive engineer of MC Raman Kaushal said, “The councillors have demanded cameras for their areas and we have floated tenders for the same. We will see the response and as far as it’s monitoring is concerned in the gated colonies residents will kep check at their level and these can be connected with direct police control room or MC’ integrated command and control centre depending upon the arrangement.”Councillor from ward No. 58 Satnam Singh said, “In the public meetings, people have been raising concerns about their safety because some anti-social elements have been targetting the residents, especially the elderly and the women. In my ward there are some colonies where already cameras have been installed and other areas residents have also asked for the same. We will ensure regular monitoring of the CCTV footage.”Another councillor from ward No. 72 Kapil Kumar said, “Chain snatchings or damage to cars have become a common issue being faced by the public so they asked for the cameras.” He added that they would install cameras in chowks to catch maximum movement of the vehicles passing through the streets or roads. He said they would do everything in their capacity to ensure public safety.