CCTVs must for big apartments

Hyderabad: It will soon be mandatory for every apartment or gated community accommodating more than 100 residents to install CCTVs at the entrance and exit gates, in accordance with the Public Safety (measures) Enforcement Act 2014.

In view of the increasing number of chain-snatching, robbery, molestation, assault and even murders cases being reported in colony lanes, by-lanes and apartment complexes, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has decided that Building Permission and Occupancy Certificates to apartments and gated communities will only be issued if the surveillance cameras are installed.

In the case of existing buildings, the GHMC officials will meet various resident welfare associations and request them to install the CCTV cameras at the entrance and exit gates. Gated communities with population of over 100 will also be required to install CCTV cameras.

Every apartment committee will need to store the CCTV footage for a period of 30 days and provide the same whenever required by the inspector of police and also file periodic returns to the municipal corporation in the prescribed proforma certifying that safety measures provided are properly maintained and the relevant equipment is in working condition. These rules will apply to all of Greater Hyderabad.

An advisory committee consisting of a representative each from municipal, revenue and police departments will jointly inspect apartments and gated communities with more than 100 residents. Citizens will have to form an association to monitor the CCTVs.

After making cameras mandatory for housing societies, it will be followed by commercial establishments, industrial sectors, religious places, educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes as well as railway and bus stations.