How the KBR spotlight suffered an outage

There is little clarity on plans of the police and HMDA to beef up security at the national park despite recent instances of crime. Meanwhile, the Forest Department has decided to install 30 CCTV cameras inside KBR Park along the walkers track. Apart from that, four handheld scanners and two metal detectors will also be installed.

Morning walkers at the KBR Park at Banjara Hills in Hyderabad. Photo: Nagara Gopal

Even after a recent high-profile kidnap attempt, emerging crime hotspots surrounding KBR Park in Banjara Hills are still a long way from being called secure.

In what appears to be knee-jerk reaction, police had drawn up ambitious plans to throw a blanket of CCTV cameras inside the park as well as on the walkways and parking lots. However, they still remain on paper and there is uncertainty when it comes to implementation.

The 5.8-km-long walkway surrounding the park is under the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and the police had written to its officials to install CCTVs in more than 50 locations. Since the area under their control is technically just a path, the HMDA is unsure if it can agree to the security proposal.

“I have written to the head office and they will take a decision on this. We have installed CCTV cameras in parks in the city under us, but this is just a path. If there is a provision, then we will surely install the cameras,” said HMDA’s Urban Forestry Director Krishna.

Meanwhile, the Forest Department has decided to install 30 CCTV cameras inside KBR Park along the walkers track. Apart from that, four handheld scanners and two metal detectors will also be installed.

Improper lighting

There have also been complaints about improper lighting on the walkway. Most of the 72 solar lamps erected around the park on the outer area do not work, thus causing great inconvenience, say some evening walkers.

Eyes at Mrugavaani

To ward off any threat from poachers, the Mrugavaani National Park in Chilkur will soon be brought under heavy surveillance.

The 1,117-acre park will now get around a dozen CCTV cameras in the coming few weeks. Presently, there is only one CCTV camera in the entire park, which is home to about 560 spotted deers and 40 sambars.

Other wildlife animals present in the park include pythons, monitor lizards, hares and others.

Officials said security is being enhanced to keep a tab on anti-social elements that might enter as visitors. Every day the park receives close to 400 visitors. While the visitor zone is only limited to 10 acres, the rest of the park comes under the conservation zone.