CCTV cameras removed from Puri beach after protests by women

The Puri district administrationPuri, which installed two close circuit television cameras onthe sea beach, today removed them after protests by womentourists.

"We have removed the CCTV cameras after allegationsfrom different quarters. The administration will take adecision after reviewing the matter," Puri district collectorNaba Kumar Das said.

The women tourists, who went to the beach to bathe,felt it was intruding on their privacy.

"We feel embarassed to bathe in the sea because of theCCTV cameras. How can I bathe when when I am being filmed?"asked a woman tourist from Mumbai.

The Beach Protection Council of Odisha (BPCO), avoluntary organisation, has also opposed CCTV cameras at thebeach.

The two CCTV cameras were placed on the beach onWednesday by the district administration to keep tabs onanti-social elements who troubled women visitors.

The district administration had spent about Rs 9 lakhfor installing the two CCTV cameras.