Even as the serial blasts in Pune have brought to focus security issues in the state, home minister RR Patil has asked citizens not to rely solely on the state government for surveillance.
On Friday, Patil asked citizens to take the onus of installing CCTV cameras outside their homes and establishments.
"In cases where people can afford them [CCTV cameras] easily, they should get it installed. It is not possible for the state government to fit CCTVs in every nook and corner of the city. This will help police nab perpetrators," said Patil, who was speaking at the state Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) office on Friday.
He said that people must also ensure that the CCTVs are maintained and in working condition. In Pune, even though the civic body had installed 10 CCTV cameras on JM Road, the site of Wednesday's blasts, all of them were found to be non-functional.
With regard to the delayed Rs800-crore plan of installing 6,000 CCTV cameras across the city, Patil said that a committee had been set up under chief secretary JK Banthia, to look into the progress of the plan.
"The chief secretary is in consultation with the police chief and will finalise the plan in some time. Quick decisions will be made in this sensitive project as they may backfire and become an embarrassment for us," Patil said.
{{/usCountry}}"The chief secretary is in consultation with the police chief and will finalise the plan in some time. Quick decisions will be made in this sensitive project as they may backfire and become an embarrassment for us," Patil said.
{{/usCountry}}HT had reported on August 3 that even three years after the 26/11 attacks in the city, the much-touted CCTV surveillance plan, a key recommendation of the Ram Pradhan committee report, is still to be implemented.
A dispute between the partners in the consortium that had been awarded the contract - which includes Allied Digital Services Limited (ADSL), MTNL, externally supported by Reliance Industries - had reportedly resulted in the delay.
With regard to the police probe on the Pune blasts, Patil said that the police were looking at all angles and not ruling out any possibility.
Union minister for home Sushilkumar Shinde will visit the blast site on Saturday and hold a review meeting with officials.
Stay updated with all the Breaking News and Latest News from Mumbai. Click here for comprehensive coverage of top Cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and more across India along with Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News.
Stay updated with all the Breaking News and Latest News from Mumbai. Click here for comprehensive coverage of top Cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and more across India along with Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News.