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.
