The Hindu 23.02.2012
Now, CCTV units must for commercial buildings
The pressing need for enhanced monitoring of public spaces has finally been recognised by the Chennai Corporation.
The
Corporation Council on Wednesday adopted a resolution approving
amendment to the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Building Rules 1972
that makes the installation of CCTV systems mandatory for all commercial
establishment and public buildings.
The resolution
follows instructions to the civic body from the State government for
taking adequate measures pertaining to installation of CCTV cameras in
such buildings where people gather in large numbers.
On
account of the absence of rules for installation of CCTV system, the
civic body has asked the government to approve the resolution seeking
amendment to the rules.
The new buildings where CCTV
camera has to be fixed include public buildings, banks, shops, malls,
shopping complex, petrol filling stations, ATM counters and other
buildings where people visit for purchase of goods.
The
Corporation will give building approval for construction of the new
building only if the building design includes the provision for
installation of CCTV system. In the existing buildings, CCTV system
would have to be installed at the time of obtaining permission from the
civic body for change of use of the building.
Every
year, the Chennai Corporation is issuing building permits to over 12,000
buildings including special buildings, multi-storey buildings and
layouts after taking over the land left over for road and open space
reservation once the planning permits are issued by the CMDA.
“Many
of the requirements such as ramp and rainwater harvesting structures
are only on paper. It is not done after the building is constructed.
The
Corporation should ensure that the CCTV system is installed after the
building is completed,” said N.Jayakumar, a civil engineer who recently
installed CCTV system in a building on Velachery-Taramani Link Road.