The Hindu 17.08.2012
Residential colonies to come under camera surveillance
Residential colonies and major streets in Karumandapam area, falling under ward 45 in the city, would soon be covered by surveillance cameras to check crime and monitor the civic conditions.
In a first-of-its kind initiative in the city, R.Gnanasekar (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), the councillor of the ward, has joined hands with a property developer to sponsor the cameras to be installed at strategic locations across the ward. To start with, the cameras are planned to be installed at 10 places. A decision to this effect was arrived at a recent consultative meeting convened at the initiative of Mr.Gnanasekar with representatives of residents’ welfare associations in ward, police and corporation officials. Representatives from about 25 residents’ welfare organisations attended the meeting along with senior police officials from the law and order, and crime wing. A demonstration of different types of cameras was organised by a private supplier of security cameras on the occasion.
Providing details of the plan, Mr.Gnanasekar said revolving dome cameras would be installed at four prominent junctions in the ward while static cameras would be installed at six other places. The cameras would be fixed on electricity poles so that there was adequate lighting. Monitors would be installed at places of worship or on the premises of office bearers of residents’ welfare associations at the respective colonies. Once installed the system would be handed over to the colonies for monitoring. According to the councillor, the total project cost is expected to work out to about Rs.5 lakh. JR Property Developers, a local firm in Karumandapam, and Mr.Gnanasekar would share the cost equally.
The cameras would be installed at Jaya Nagar, Vasantha Nagar, JP Nagar, Selva Nagar, New Selva Nagar, Kalyanasundaram Nagar, RMS Colony and Thiru Nagar. The main focus would be to cover the entry and exit points of the residential areas so as to monitor the movement of strangers.
“The cameras will also help us monitor the civic conditions in the area. For instance, if there was garbage uncollected in part of the ward, we could attend to it immediately,” said Mr.Gnanasekar. The move has gone done well with the police, he said. For Mr.Gnanasekar, who is also the chairman of K.Abishekapuram zone of the corporation, the move is a fulfilment of a promise he had made to the electors during the local body elections. “It was one of the promises I had made to the voters at the time of elections. We hope to get the cameras installed in the next 20 days,” he told The Hindu .
