CCTVs planned at Lalbagh

CCTVs planned at Lalbagh
Deccan Herald

Close Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) in a botanical garden? Well, if the authorities have their way then such CCTVs could soon become a reality in the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens.

As if a trial run, the police had set up CCTVs at the Lalbagh Gardens during the Republic Day Flower show as a precautionary measure following the terror attack at the Indian Institute of Science recently. And they also kept a close watch on the people entering Lalbagh for the show.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Assistant Commissioner of Police Nagaraj, of the Madivala sub-division said: “Hoax calls and even a threatening letter were received by the police sometime before the Flower Show. Hence security was tightened at the gates and the Glass House area during the show. The CCTVs proved very effective in containing mischievous elements from indulging in petty offenses and from suspected violence,” he said.

Moreover, cases of thefts, eve-teasing, chain snatching, suicides and other offenses are often reported from Lalbagh. Given this, adding monitoring with a CCTV would only better the safety of the visitor, he added.

Horticulture Department Director Dr G K Vasanth Kumar said: “Since the experiment was successful in covering most of the important locations in Lalbagh, plans are being chalked out to make CCTVs a permanent feature of the Botanical Garden.”

The CCTVs will be located at points in the Garden frequented by people and act as surveillance measure against the security threat to the garden, he explained, adding that it would not, however, hamper the movement of visitors. “The CCTVs will, in no way, interfere with the privacy of visitors,” he said.

“The cost estimates are being worked out and the locations identified to go with the proposal being designed to seek grants. Once completed, the proposal will be forwarded to the department concerned after getting the proposal reviewed by the police”, he said.