Cong,NCP rap Patil over ‘indecision’ on CCTV project

Says a senior NCP leader: “The over-cautiousness displayed by the home department has almost thwarted the project. And the home minister’s lenient approach is being misused by the factions within the police department out to score points against each other on awarding CCTV contracts.”

A senior minister adds: “If the home minister cannot take a firm decision on awarding the contract for 5,000 CCTV cameras for the security of the people of Maharashtra,it somewhere reflects an administrative failure. There cannot be any reason to justify the delay.”

While Patil remains NCP’s most popular leader enjoying highest credibility when it comes to clean image,concerns are being raised over the delay in his decision making. Drawing a comparison,party insiders are pointing out how Union Minister for Heavy Industries Praful Patel took a “bold decision” to acquire a fleet of aircraft in less than six months’ time during his tenure as the Union civil aviation minister.

The matter pertaining to CCTV cameras has been till now discussed in the Assembly and Legislative Council 25 times. Every time,the records show,the home minister gave the same reply,saying the project is in its final stages and would be implemented soon.

“There are issues in which the home minister will have to take a firm stand. If necessary,they should consider giving the contract (for the 5,000 CCTV cameras) to the highest bidder who promises best results,” says a party leader.

Another senior NCP minister asks: “In 2014,what achievements are we going to place before the people? Our home department cannot take a decision to install 5,000 CCTV cameras in five years. We botched up the dance bar case,which was flawed from the very beginning.” Patil’s aggression on dance bar,taking it to the level of five-star hotels,has upset a section of the NCP. “Frankly speaking,we are ignoring the real issues and chasing the populist ones for image building. But these will not work,” says a Union minister.

According to state BJP president Devendra Fadnavis,“It appears they have taken the people for granted. Otherwise,how can there be justification for any government to not take a decision on CCTVs for the last five years. What does it reflect?”

Last year,sensing the failure of the government to decide on CCTVs,the Vidhan Bhawan management took its independent stand to install CCTV cameras. On the other hand,the scanning machine installed at the main entrance of the building has remained non-functional,due to which there is no security check for the bags that are carried inside. This,despite a high-powered committee holding a meeting on the Vidhan Bhawan premises to review the security around 48 hours before the Monsoon Session began two weeks ago,and the Speaker’s office issuing orders to security officials to rectify the problem in scanning machine.

The Pradhan Committee recommendation to scale up security along the coastal stretch,too,remains on paper. The home ministry admits: “Several high-speed patrolling boats require overhaul and are therefore out of action.”

In one bullet proof boat,the front glass has been missing,making it vulnerable to any attack,while shortage of diesel to run them is an old story. As a result,patrolling along the coast has been restricted to shorter stretches and only once a day.

The home department has also come under fire for the phone instruments lying unused at several police stations in the city for non-payment of bills.