GURGAON: The Gurgaon administration on Thursday made it mandatory for housing societies in the district to install CCTV cameras.

The order issued by district commissioner Shekhar Vidyarthi also covers pubs and bars. It says cameras must be installed at the entry and exit gates, be of good quality and store footage for at least 30 days. “These orders have been issued in view of some incidents of crime which occurred in the recent past in the district,” the notification said. The order, officials said, comes into force with immediate effect and violators will be punished under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.

Barring high-end condominiums, a large number of group housing societies do not have CCTV coverage. There are over 100 group-housing societies in different Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) sectors.

The order was hailed by residents. A Residents’ Welfare Association functionary of Karamyogi society, Vishal Bharat, said, “The RWA is aware of the order and will be installing CCTVs at the entry and exit gates of society premises. The money will have to be pooled because the management committee has recently been formed after elections.” Installation of CCTV cameras will cost each society around Rs 30,000.

“At least four CCTV have to be installed,” said Bharat. The CCTV cover, he said, will definitely bolster the condominiums’ safety.

The police have been complaining about the absence of CCTVs in colonies. The latest order will be of great help in investigations of thefts and burglaries. “CCTVs should not just be installed at entry or exit gates but also inside the colony, covering corridors and other places,” Amit Arora, a Sector 4 resident.

“The presence of CCTVs will help in monitoring all the movement of visitors in and out of the colony. At present, security guards have to maintain a register on visitors,” said Chetan Aggarwal, a resident of Park View (II).

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