Probe reveals 16 CCTV cameras installed for ‘free’

Deshpande ordered a probe after hearing a second appeal filed by an RTI applicant, Mahesh Kale.

Deshpande ordered a probe after hearing a second appeal filed by an RTI applicant, Mahesh Kale.

Sixteen cameras to cover the premises of the Haveli tehshildar’s office, all installed by a contractor “without being asked to install them”, have raised eyebrows. An inquiry ordered by State Information Commissioner (SIC) D B Deshpande to unravel the mystery behind the installation of the CCTV cameras reveals the contractor had apparently not adhered to the usual procedure of floating tenders. There is no clarity on who sanctioned the installation of cameras, Deshpande had observed when he had directed the Pune divisional commissioner to get an inquiry. The SIC directive was reported by the The Indian Express on May 4, 2014. (A case of ‘mysterious’ CCTV cameras, May 4, 2014).

Deshpande ordered a probe after hearing a second appeal filed by an RTI applicant, Mahesh Kale. He had asked for copies of tender documents, work order bills of the work. Both the public information officer (PIO) and the Appellate Authority (AA) failed to provide the documents.

When the inquiry was on, the PIO had said the RTI application was received during general elections and both the CFC and the Haveli tehshildar’s office were then busy with issuance of caste certificates.

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“We were not able to provide the information on time as we do not have any record of tenders being floated, any bid received or office orders for installation of cameras. There is no equipment to record the CCTV feed,” the RTI reply had said.

An RTI reply had pointed out that altercations between staff and the public over issuance of caste certificates were quite usual. “In view of these risks, the then SDO, Haveli, had requested the same agency that installed CCTV cameras at the CFC to install cameras at the Tesildar’s office, too. The agency in question obliged.” the reply said and added that “The bill might have been footed by the CFC, it is understood”.

Snehal Barge, sub divisional officer (SDO), said she conducted an inquiry and found that the CCTV cameras were installed by the contractor. “The contractor is supposed to install the cameras at the back-end office, besides the CFC.”

Parthasarathi Biswas

Partha Sarathi Biwas is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express with 10+ years of experience in reporting on Agriculture, Commodities and Developmental issues. He has been with The Indian Express since 2011 and earlier worked with DNA. Partha's report about Farmers Producer Companies (FPC) as well long pieces on various agricultural issues have been cited by various academic publications including those published by the Government of India. He is often invited as a visiting faculty to various schools of journalism to talk about development journalism and rural reporting. In his spare time Partha trains for marathons and has participated in multiple marathons and half marathons. ... Read More

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