43 cameras in NDMC areas

The New Delhi Municipal Council NDMC had been sitting on the proposal since June, 2007 8212; for far too long. But Saturday8217;s blasts saw the municipal body reaching for the file on surveillance cameras in four days flat. It will now install 43 Internet-Protocol IP cameras in Palika Kendra, Central Park, Palika Bazar and its parking. In the next six months. These sophisticated cameras can feed its footage directly into the Internet. They will work all hours for 15 days at a stretch and will be set up at strategic corners. The plan was cleared last June after an extensive survey, but the final tenders got the nod on Wednesday. The cameras will cost Rs 1.2 crore.

The traders8217; association at Palika Bazar had prodded the Council for the last four years to strengthen electronic surveillance in the market. General Secretary Dinesh Walia said, 8220;It is about our security. We have asked the NDMC for long to clear the tenders.8221;

Meanwhile, the dustbins that were overturned following Saturday8217;s blasts continue to remain that way as there is still no plan on what to do with them.

While garbage piles up atop, it was learnt that the order to put them upside down first came from District Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, Anand Mohan 8212; soon after the blasts.

Mohan said, 8220;Minutes after the blasts at Barakhamba and Central Park, we realised they had put the bombs in dustbins this time. I flashed a message to all posts to check dustbins for more bombs.8221; Mohan had also alerted NDMC officers.

Police officers on the beat asked ragpickers and vendors to go through the garbage.