Privacy first: Citizens wary of CCTVs

Hyderabad:The city police initiative to build a world-class surveillance mechanism, with CCTV cameras at all residential apartments, might not get a warm welcome. Many residents fear that the CCTV cameras, that are planned to be placed at the entrance to the apartments, would be a hindrance to their privacy.

The Resident Association members of Sai Pragathi Towers, at Himayatnagar, disconnected the newly installed CCTV cameras stating that they do not want their women and children recorded. The cameras were instaled by a flat owner named Pradeep Bansal at the parking lot and main gate. Following the association action, Mr Bansal approached the Narayanguda police.

Hyderabad police commissioner M. Mahendar Reddy said that these are ‘initial fears’ that the citizens have in such matters. “This initiative is to ensure their safety. We are only asking them to instal cameras at the main gate and parking lots, not inside the building,” he said.

The city police have made it mandatory for residential buildings to instal CCTV cameras in accordance with the Public Safety (Measures) Enforcement Act 2013. Police and GHMC officials are approaching resident welfare associations to instal the cameras. The apartment committee should provide the footage if the police needs it in order to bust crime or gather intelligence.

Asked about the residents’ reluctance to instal CCTV cameras, Dr Rao Chelikani president of the United Federation of Resident Welfare Associations, said people who have recently migrated from rural areas may have conservative view on privacy.

“We are trying to convince them showing the better side of this initiative. We are also taking up alternative mechanisms,” he said.