Vulnerable spots to come under CCTV surveillance to ensure safety of citizens

New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi has promised to install CCTV cameras in south Delhi using her MPLAD funds

If everything goes according to the plan, south Delhi will soon come under a strong surveillance cover. The promise was made by New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi, as a large part of south Delhi falls under her constituency, at a recent meeting with the Delhi Police and a group of RWAs. The meet was prompted by the constant complaints and urging of RWAs regarding issues of security including dark patches, street crimes such as chain snatching, vehicle thefts and traffic snarls, among others.

The police officials say that in many areas where residents have installed the cameras on their own, the monitoring has not been effective. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT File)

A district level committee meeting conducted with the south district unit of Delhi Police at the DCP headquarters in Hauz Khas was attended by representatives of over 50 RWAs of the area, senior citizens associations and municipal corporation officials. The meeting was chaired by Lekhi in which she promised to fund the project from her MPLAD scheme. The meeting had DCP (South) Ishwar Singh, additional DCPs (south) Nupur Prasad and Sanjay Bhatia, ACPs of all divisions and SHOs of the district’s 16 police stations present.

The police will be identifying the corridors and areas prone to crimes where installation of CCTV cameras could help in gathering clues and subsequently fast-track investigation. “We have been mapping the area and a report has already been sent to the minister. The requirements have been sent but we are yet to receive a response from her office. It will be an important step for improving general policing as well as creating a deterrent over a period of time,” said additional DCP (south) Nupur Prasad, who has also been appointed the nodal officer for the project.

Some of the areas identified include South Extension-2, Vasant Vihar, RK Puram Sectors 8 and 9, Sarojini Nagar and Pilanji Village among others. It was observed, she said, that in many areas where residents have installed the cameras on their own, the monitoring has not been effective.

“We will be further narrowing down on the exact spots where the cameras must be installed. Once this is done, we will be able to know where we can set up a control room for routine monitoring,” she said.

A number of complaints regarding nuisance around liquor shops were raised by the RWA representatives. The members pointed it out, in particular, that the liquor shops provide an environment for anti-social activities. Lekhi asked them to name the shops that they want to be moved out.

“There are two liquor stores in Sewa Nagar and Sarvpriya Vihar markets that are located within the residential areas. Anti-social elements gather here every evening and indulge in frequent brawls, which is a constant nuisance for residents. It becomes unsafe for women to venture out because of these activities,” said JR Gupta, a resident of Safdarjung Enclave and president, Senior Citizen Council of Delhi.

Prasad has also been made in charge for addressing complaints regarding dark or poorly-lit patches, as several complaints about the newly-installed LED lights not being functional have poured in.