Neten Dorji | Trashigang
With more residents and vehicles in the towns every year, residents of Trashigang and Trashiyangtse towns feel closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras are needed for safety and controlling littering.
Trashigang town doesn’t have closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) except for the eight installed in 2018 inside the double-storey parking lot in the town. Of that, one is now not working. Sources said that the quality of the image is also poor.
A Trashigang resident, Ugyen Wangmo said that with time they also need such facilities, like other towns. “We cannot say Trashigang town is unsafe but CCTV is needed. Unlike in the other recognised towns, dzongkhag towns do not get the same attention from the government.”
Thromde thuemi, Thinley Namgay said, “It would help us to monitor the growing illegal garbage disposal issues in the town and Mithidrang stream.”
He said with installation of CCTV it would also benefit traffic police and road safety officials to monitor crime and vehicle-related cases.
The eight CCTV cameras that installed unground parking is monitor by traffic police. However, it was learnt that only seven cameras are working.
An official said while CCTV camera helps them in monitoring but the images are unclear and poses a challenge to recognise the registration number of vehicles. “If there are any hit and run cases, it cannot serve the purposes,” he said.
The municipal office has not received any proposal for additional cameras in the town. Municipal in-charge, Jigme Jamtsho said, “In the 12th Plan, we don’t have any budget for installation of such facilities.”
Trashiyangtse town has four CCTV cameras but one has broken down. The office is still looking for a solution.
A shopkeeper, Sherub Lhamo said since there were only a few cameras, the town experienced numerous cases of burglary, vandalism and incidences of hitting vehicles.
Another businessman said, “It would be better if the government could install the cameras in the town on cost-sharing.”
Trashiyangtse thromde thuemi, Ugyen Lhamo said new faces are increasing in the town. “We cannot predict a crime.”