The Indian Express 30.03.2013
CCTV cameras must for shops in East
Any commercial establishment that wants a licence from the East
Municipal Corporation will first have to ensure that the premises is
under CCTV surveillance.
Abiding by the orders of Special Task Force set up under the
Union Home Ministry to ensure safety of women in the capital, East
corporation has decided to make CCTV cameras mandatory in their building
by-laws.
Directions have been given to ensure that every trader operating
out of an area of 250 sqft or more installs CCTV cameras on the
premises.
East Municipal Corporation Commissioner S S Yadav said all
commercial buildings will have to ensure that their premises are
monitored by CCTV cameras round the clock and a back-up feed of 30 days
is maintained.
“The issues regarding installation of CCTV cameras came up in
meetings held under the chairmanship of the Union Home Secretary. In a
meeting of the Special Task Force — constituted after the December 16
gangrape case to review safety of women in Delhi— the Home Secretary
directed corporations to issue necessary orders to provide CCTV
surveillance with a back-up feed of 30 days by licensee, owner, occupier
of cinema halls, malls, car parking, hotels and places of public
gathering and commercial establishments. Accordingly, we have decided to
modify licence conditions to include this provision,” Yadav said.
“A new by-law, called Delhi Municipal Corporation CCTV by-laws,
2012, would be notified soon. Every establishment — new or existing —
shall be required to install CCTV cameras within a period of three
months of the notification of these by-laws,” he said.
Currently, it is not mandatory to install CCTV cameras in shops and other commercial establishments.
According to the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, the licensing
policy only seeks to ensure adherence to fire-fighting norms, zonal
plans, building by-laws and the Delhi Master Plan.
“It will be the responsibility of the shopkeeper/trader to keep
these cameras operational at all times. In case of any non-compliance,
their licences will be cancelled,” Yadav said.
The members of the task force comprise Delhi’s chief secretary,
commissioner of police, special commissioner (traffic), special
commissioner (law and order), chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women,
chairperson of New Delhi Municipal Council, transport commissioner,
commissioners of the three city corporations and joint secretary in the
Home Ministry.
