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Bhubaneswar: Amid a spurt in incidents of crime, improper functioning of CCTV cameras installed at various places in Capital City Bhubaneswar seems to have put the police on their toes.
Reportedly, CCTV cameras are not working properly at many places due to technical problems, adversely affecting maintenance of law and order situation. Police are groping in dark over the murder, loot, snatching, assault and traffic violation incidents because of lack of surveillance support.
According to reports, though police examined CCTV footage at the recent IRC Village murder case, the accused was not spotted since nothing was recorded in the CCTV camera installed there.
“Most of the CCTV cameras in Bhubaneswar are not working. Hence, it's becoming difficult to nab the anti-socials involved in various crimes,” rued a denizen of Bhubaneswar.
Experts say even as the crime rate is escalating in the city with each passing day in the State capital, poor surveillance measures have allowed criminals a free run.
"The CCTV cameras installed in Bhubaneswar are not monitored and maintained properly and as a result surveillance is missing in the crime prone areas," said lawyer Bana Mohanty.
Police said at least 292 cameras are operational at 65 locations of the city. However, only 120 among those are working. As many as 125 cameras at 28 places have been damaged. The plan was to install 592 more cameras at 159 places under Smart City scheme. However, the target is yet to be achieved.
Earlier, Police Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi had said that more CCTV cameras will be installed and a drone hub will be established in Bhubaneswar soon. However, no measure in this direction has been taken yet.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bhubaneswar Umashankar Dash admitted that there is room for improvement in the management of CCTV cameras in the City.
"Most of the CCTV cameras are working in Bhubaneswar. However, there is scope for improvement. The upgradation of the cameras is in the pipeline to make those useful for crime surveillance," said Dash.
(Edited By Ramakanta Biswas)
