Just ahead of elections, Ghaziabad authorities report shortage of video cameras

The Ghaziabad district administration is facing a shortage of video cameras, said an officer on Wednesday.

"To conduct peaceful elections we need about 200 video and still cameras but we possess only 80 cameras," said Richhpal Singh, ADM City." In the 2012 assembly elections, we hired cameras and paid at the rate of Rs.1,100 per camera per day. But this time, no one is ready to provide the cameras at this rate. So, we have written to the election officer to consider revising the rate at Rs.2,000 per camera per day for 12 hours of duty," he added.

The officer said, "There are 114 sector magistrates, 21 zonal magistrates, 21 flying squads and 23 static surveillance teams, each requiring one camera. Since there is a blanket ban on public meetings between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., the static surveillance team needs round-the-clock cameras for watching night movement. There is a proposal to double the payment for 24-hour duty."