GURGAON: GMDA plans to install 62 CCTV cameras to keep checks on illegal dumping of waste and timely pickup from secondary collection points located in different parts of the city. The authority has invited bids for the installation of cameras at 14 secondary garbage collection points along with Bandhwari landfill site.
According to a GMDA official, a survey was conducted at all the secondary collection points after which it was decided that CCTV cameras needed to be installed at 14 locations where optical fibre connectivity is already available in the first phase of the project. However, an optical fiber network will need to be laid at Bandhwari landfill site, the official added.
The sites where these cameras will be installed include Dundahera, Atul Kataria Chowk, Sheetla Mata Mandir, Roshanpura Sabji Mandi, Sector 37, Khandsa, Beriwala Bagh, opposite court parking, Prempuri Jharsa, Nathupur, Chakkarpur, Wazirabad, Kanhai and Sector 70. According to the GMDA official, bullet type cameras will be installed for general surveillance along with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) for tracking vehicles. All these CCTV cameras will be linked to GMDA's integrated command control centre (ICCC) wherein real time monitoring can be accessed. Additionally, flood lights will also be installed for effective surveillance at night as well.
"We are undertaking this project on the request of the MCG. It would help in preventing unauthorised dumping of waste and check the violations. Apart from general surveillance, it would be able to check unauthorised vehicles and ensure there is no manipulation of weight of waste, which is being transported to Bandhwari," a senior GMDA official said. The project would cost the development authority around Rs 4 crore, and it will take an agency 6 months' time to complete the work after being allotted the contract.
When contacted, joint commissioner of MCG Naresh Kumar said, "Only an authorised agency is allowed to dump waste at the secondary collection points, however, it has been observed that mixed waste, including C&D, horticulture, medical and even industrial waste, are being dumped at these sites illegally. Apart from installation of CCTV cameras, we are also working on barricading these sites, so it will help in effective surveillance of waste collection. We will be able to track the movement of trucks collecting waste from secondary collection points to Bandhwari, the quantity collected and deposited at the landfill site. The whole system will be integrated with ICCC and any shortcoming on parts of the agency will be looked into," he said.
In 2021, the MCG had planned to install CCTV cameras at 20 locations to check illegal dumping of waste, but the project did not take place. Sources in the MCG said that it could not be executed because it was not financially feasible for them to build the entire CCTV surveillance infrastructure at the dumping site. Meanwhile, experts have said that the city has been going through a crisis when it comes to solid waste management and any such intervention will only provide a temporary solution. "It is appreciated that some decision has been taken for surveillance. But will this surveillance lead to integration of area contractors into the system and ensure compliance of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, needs to be looked at. If they are able to achieve that then we will be able to see some change on ground," said Ruchika Sethi Takkar, founder of a citizen group.
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