Officials moot high-power panel on security purchases

The new committee is proposed to be fully empowered to take decisions regarding procurement without a ceiling on the cost of equipment.

The recent triple blasts highlighted the use of video surveillance in crowded places,traffic junctions and vital installations,with security officials relying on the CCTV footage from Opera House and Zaveri Bazar to look for possible suspects. “We are proposing to the government to form a high-power committee,which will have full powers to take decisions,” said a senior IAS officer.

The proposal to procure 5,000 CCTV cameras was first mooted after the 26/11 and has been caught in red-tape. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had told a recent press conference that there is a high-power committee to decide on the procurement and any such proposal does not need to go before the Cabinet.

Meanwhile,an expression of interest (EOI) for the CCTV network will be issued soon. The government is looking for sophisticated ‘intelligent’ cameras,software and storage system and linkages with various agencies.

“We need access to the cameras set up by various private agencies for their security. The main issue is about the backup and software features to track suspicious movement,” said a senior official.

Giving an example,an official said that if a person is seen moving from car to car in a parking lot,it is an indication that there is something suspicious. This movement will be detected and the control room can be alerted,swinging police into action.