The state Assembly on Tuesday adopted a bill making it mandatory to install CCTV cameras at places where the gathering was more than 100 people. The places included commercial establishments, industrial and religious places, educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, railway and bus stations, organised congregations etc.

The “Andhra Pradesh Public Safety (Measures) Enforcement Bill, 2013” was piloted by minister J Geetha Reddy on behalf of chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. It was adopted unanimously.

If any establishment fails to install CCTV cameras, action ranging from penalty to closure will be taken.

Geetha Reddy said rules would be framed soon and that fixing CCTV cameras was mandatory in all the 19 municipal corporations in the state.

In view of terrorist violence affecting public safety, it has been felt there is a need for public safety measures, according to the Bill.

However, TDP members staged a walkout protesting against Geetha Reddy, a tainted Minister, introducing the bill.

Geetha Reddy said no agency or court had found fault with her and that the TDP was behaving as though it was higher than a court.

The Andhra Pradesh Value Added Tax (amendment) Bill, the AP Value Added Tax (second amendment) Bill, 2013, the AP Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments (amendment) Bill, 2013, and Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences University (amendment) Bill, 2013, were also adopted in the Assembly on Tuesday. In all seven Bills were adopted.

The Bangaru Talli Bill, introduced in the Assembly on Tuesday, would be taken up for discussion later.

VAT ON PETROL REDUCED: The Value Added Tax (amendment) Bill reduced tax on petrol from 33 percent to 31 percent. Introducing the Bill, finance minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy said the amendment bill was only to rationalise taxes and not to increase government revenue.