After solar panels, CCTVs must in new housing projects

While rainwater harvesting and solar panels is a must in all new housing projects in Thane, guardian minister Eknath Shinde has suggested to make CCTVs too compulsory to keep an eye on untoward activities and curb crime.

He said, "To control increasing cases of chain snatching, burglaries, molestation and eve-teasing in daylight, CCTVs at housing societies will play an important role."

A police officer said, "In many residential areas, chain-snatching cases have gone up, but we have arrested the culprits after they were captured on camera. The cameras work as the third eye and helps us in detecting cases."

In areas like Pokharan Road, Manpada, Kasarvadavali, Tikujiniwadi and Anand Nagar, chain-snatching cases are a regular affair, with two to three complaints reported daily. So many societies have taken an initiative and installed cameras in their premises.

Shinde added, "Installation of CCTVs could be worked out and made a necessary criteria for upcoming projects. This is help residents as well as police."

However, housing societies on Pokharan Road and Anandnagar have been pro in installing CCTVs. K Kumar, president of Progressive Thane Residents Association, said, "We have ensured that every society is equipped with CCTV and efforts are on to install cameras in each society's premises."