Businessmen in the district four years ago had helped install 29 (closed-circuit television) cameras on different road sections from Munglin to Lothar of the district to prevent crime. Although the initial plan was to install 43 cameras, only 29 were installed in the lack of funds.[break]
Of the 29 cameras, 10 at major hubs of the district have stopped working, said Dipak Kumar Thapa, the chief of the District Police Office, Chitwan. "Two CCTV cameras, fixed in Aaptari of the district, which is the entrance to the district, have stopped working. Likewise, six cameras installed in the area around the Land Revenue Office in the district are also not functioning," said Thapa, adding, "We don´t know how long will the remaining cameras work in the lack of maintenance."
The cameras had really helped the police in monitoring street activities, especially criminal activities, informed Thapa. "Also the long power cuts have also hampered the operation of the cameras."
The DPO says Chitwan´s security has been compromised in the lack of maintenance of the cameras.
The development banks and commercial banks in the district had agreed to fund the project but most of the banks didn´t provide money, informed Uttam Chuke, a businessman of the district. There are altogether 75 banks in the district and it had been agreed that each development bank would provide Rs 50,000 for the project and each commercial bank would provide Rs 100,000.
According to Him Nath Dawadi, the chief district officer, in the early days of the installation of the CCTV cameras, police had arrested many criminals with the help of CCTV footages.
The government has not provided any amount for the operation of the cameras till date. The local authorities claim that the local businessman should work for the maintenance of the installed cameras.
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