Bhatkal: CCTV cameras installed by the Bhatkal Town Municipality in various areas are not functioning and it is reported that no one is even monitoring them. The cameras were donated to the police department to monitor criminal activities, and the plan to curb the crimes have also rusted along with dozens of cameras.

It may be recalled that CCTV cameras were installed by Bhatkal TMC in 2015 at a cost of Rs. 28 lakh in some important places in urban areas as a donation to the Police Department.  Arrangements were made to monitor it at the Bhatkal Town police station.  The contract for the installation of the cameras was given to Miura Infotech Company, Bangalore. In the early days, these cameras were operational. But gradually the cameras stopped working. Now the situation is that most of the cameras provided by the TMC are nonoperational, which has made it impossible to obtain incidental evidence with the help of these cameras in case of crime reports in these spots.

On the other hand, 27 cameras were also provided by the Director General of Police for installation in Bhatkal.  A police officer said that the cameras provided by the DIG have been installed in Bhatkal city and areas of Jali Pattan Panchayat where there are no cameras donated by Bhatkal TMC.  And these cameras are working perfectly.

Assistant Executive Engineer of Bhatkal TMC, Umesh Madival, said, "Since we handed over these cameras to the police department in 2015, we are not taking care of them." These cameras are damaged due to lack of maintenance. We are facing short of funds so it is not possible for TMC to repair these cameras, he added.