Most CCTV cameras at Vidhana Soudha out of order?

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: Only 16 of the 89 CCTV cameras installed at the Vidhana Soudha are functional, say well placed sources.

The sources at the Soudha claimed that most of these cameras are not in working order due to various issues including expiry of the contract of an agency that is supposed to maintain the equipment.

These devices require a full-fledged technician to keep them in operational condition.

The disclosure comes in the backdrop of the arrest of three persons for allegedly shouting pro-Pakistan slogans at the Vidhana Soudha premises.

The incident is alleged to have been raised following Congress leader Naseer Hussain’s victory in the recent Rajya Sabha elections on February 26.

People in the know hold that the major concern here is that despite a history of unruly incidents and security breaches witnessed inside the premises, the seat of legislature lacks well maintained technological surveillance tools.

Last year, the Assembly Speaker UT Khader had said that too many departments were involved in the safety and security of Vidhana Soudha.

“If something goes wrong, accountability cannot be fixed with a particular department,” he had said.

He had further expressed a plan to install hi-tech CCTV cameras in and around Vidhana Soudha following which several agencies had volunteered.

The Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said that the Vidhana Soudha has adequate security in place and there are plans to enhance the safety by installing face-reading cameras in and around Vidhana Soudha premises.

A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) ranked officer is deputed to ensure adequate personnel for the security of ten government buildings in the jurisdiction including Vidhana Soudha.

According to sources, presently around 200 personnel including teams from Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and D-SWAT from the Internal Security Division (ISD) have been deployed at Soudha.

The issue is that people enter inside the building without a visitor’s pass and some visitors use the names of politicians to gain access.

Last year on July 10, the police found a sharp fruit cutter inside a government employee's bag.

On July 7, a person identified as Thipperudrappa (72) made his way to an MLA's chair and briefly attended the Budget session.

After News Trail spoke to the department concerned, fact-pace operations have already begun to check and rectify the cameras that are out of order.

Too many cooks...: Speaker UT Khader

Speaker UT Khader reiterated that the issue plaguing security infrastructure at the Vidhana Soudha was the inability to fix responsibility since multiple parties were involved.

He pointed out that the Public Works Department (PWD) had to set up infrastructure at the premises, the Finance Department had to release the funds and the police had to take control of it.

“The PWD has the responsibility to build and let’s say, they ask for Rs 5 crore from the Finance Department but they receive Rs 3 crore, which proves insufficient. Whose responsibility is it then?” Khader said while talking to News Trail, adding that he had sent a proposal to the state government to affix authority with one party, adding that they should respond.

The Speaker also mooted sniffer dogs at the gates as a way to prevent potential miscreants from gaining entry to the Vidhana Soudha.