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
.