CCTVs begin jhora vigil

Freeze, you're on TV!

TSHERING EDEN

GANGTOK, 17 March:  In an attempt to discourage dumping of garbage in jhoras across the capital [a perennial problem], the Gangtok Municipal Corporation has installed CCTVs at relevant vantage points across town. Those caught in the act by these surveillance cameras, equipped with night vision, will be identified, publicly exposed and fined, it is informed. 

Speaking to NOW!, Gangtok Mayor, KN Topgay, informed that incriminating footage is proposed to be aired on Nayuma Cable TV which reaches every home in the capital which “will hopefully act as a deterrent". 

He further informed that those who pass on information to the GMC on offenders will receive half the amount of the fine collected.

The footage captured by these 24-hour surveillance cameras is kept in a recording room. As of now, it is not clear who will watch the footage to identify offenders, how this would be done and at what intervals this exercise will be carried out. 

Personnel from GMC have been collecting recorded footage from recording devices maintained in locality homes.

With regard to garbage collection, the Chief Municipal Officer, Anil Raj Rai had earlier listed lack of adequate manpower and garbage collection vehicles, due to the increase in the area catered to post the formation of the GMC, as the main problems. 

There are just eleven garbage collection vehicles with the GMC at present, he informed. 

After the GMC was formed the area for garbage collection has increased but the number of vehicles remains the same as earlier, he said, further adding, “We will be adding more vehicles to the existing fleet”.