The shootout drama that unfolded outside KBR Park in the plush Banjara Hills area on Wednesday, injuring none, may end up bleeding the Forest Department.
A day after the incident rattled the citizens, the police department has written to the Forest Department to install, not a dozen or two, but a whopping 120 CCTV cameras in and around the KBR Park. After closely surveying the park, the DCP of West Zone has recommended that the CCTV cameras be installed at strategic locations so that the entire peripheral stretch of 5 km is secured.
“We have asked the forest officials to install 50 CCTV cameras inside the park and an additional 70 outside the park,” informed A. Venkateswara Rao, DCP, West Zone. “We have also decided to increase police patrolling on KBR Park. The investigation is still going on and more steps may be taken after the completion of the case,” he explained.
High costs However, the latest recommendation is likely to put the Forest Department authorities in a spot as they are finding it tough to even maintain the existing four CCTV cameras”. Given the high costs involved in procuring CCTV cameras along with its wiring and maintenance expenditure it may not be feasible to implement the proposal.
Already short staffed, the KBR Park is yet to get the additional security and CCTV cameras they requested some time back following the nabbing of sandalwood smugglers inside the park. At the same time, the park authorities have also decided to increase the security inside the park.
“We will install metal detectors at the entrance gates and the visitors will be frisked with scanners,” Divisional Forest officer K. Mohan said. “We will hold a meeting with the committee members of the mosque located inside the park. We will also convey it to them that from now on we will be issuing entry passes to those who come to pray at the mosque.”
Scores of walkers, who make a beeline for the park in the mornings and evenings, are hopeful there won’t be a repeat of Wednesday’s incident. “There have been petty crimes like breaking of cars and theft of belongings too. We want more police presence in the park so that the walkers feel safe,” said Ramachandra Reddy, president, KBR Park Walkers Association.
Infobox
HAWK’S EYE
Police ask Forest Department to install a whopping 120 CCTV cameras in and around the KBR Park
CCTV cameras planned at strategic locations so that the entire peripheral stretch of 5 km is secured
KBR Park is yet to get the additional security and CCTV cameras requested some time back
Scores of walkers who frequent the place want more police presence so that they can feel safe
