Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 8: Deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, A B Ibrahim, instructed the officials to convene a meeting of oil company representatives immediately and set them deadline of December 31 this year to install closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) in all petrol bunks in the district without fail. He insisted that this is necessary both in terms of safety and transparency.

His instruction came at a meeting on CCTV installation held at his office on Monday December 7, after the officials concerned said that CCTVs have been installed in 76 out of 147 petrol bunks. He also told the officials to hasten the process of installing CCTVs in religious and educational centres and also markets, bus stands, malls, railway stations, government offices, port area and other important spots. He said that before installation, aspects like quality, storage capacity and maintenance of CCTVs should be properly looked into.

He said that it is the duty of the officials to pass on strict instructions to the concerned to install CCTVs and maintain them. He said that those who do not want to follow this instruction have to give their disagreement in writing, so that the district administration can go ahead with proper action.

Ibrahim also told the additional deputy commissioner to follow up and complete the process of installation of CCTVs in all religious centres before their annual festivals begin, noting that CCTV installation is pending in several temples. When the officials said they do not have accurate information about CCTV installation in 605 mosques in the district, the DC advised them to collect and provide accurate information.

District superintendent of polcie, Dr S D Sharanappa, noted that most private organizations and petrol bunks look at CCTVs as means of keeping vigil on customers and colleagues. He said that it is important to install good quality CCTVs at the entrance to the concerns and spots which clearly show people entering the concerns from the roads and those going out. He said that such an installation is important from the angle of safety and also for managing law and order situation in case of unsavoury incidents.