The rural police, in collaboration with the Geology and Mines Department and the Revenue Department, have decided to install over 200 AI-enabled CCTV cameras in Perur and Coimbatore North taluks to prevent illegal red soil mining.
Earlier, the rural police had submitted a proposal to the Tamil Nadu government to install 580 AI-enabled CCTV cameras along Perur-Chadivayal Road, Thondamuthur-Narasipuram Road, Thadagam Valley, and all Tamil Nadu-Kerala border check posts to curb illegal sand smuggling. The project was estimated to cost several crores of rupees.
However, during a recent meeting, N. Muruganandam, Chief Secretary to the State Government, instructed officials to reassess the number of AI-enabled CCTV cameras required. He directed the rural police, Geology and Mines Department, and Revenue Department to conduct a detailed study before finalizing camera locations in Perur and Coimbatore North taluks.
The meeting, held on Monday, was attended by District Collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar, District Superintendent of Police Dr. K. Karthikeyan, Geology and Mines Department Assistant Director Vijayaraghavan, and other revenue department officials. The authorities will proceed with the installation process only after identifying strategic locations based on the study.
