Hyderabad police track meat waste incidents with CCTV
HYDERABAD: Tension prevailed in the Masab Tank area at midnight after locals spotted a piece of animal meat on a road opposite a prayer place. Police rushed to the spot, deployed security and launched an inquiry.
CCTV footage revealed that a stray dog had carried the meat from a nearby garbage dump, dropping a piece close to the prayer site.
Similar incident in temple area
On February 12, 2025, residents noticed meat inside a temple in the Tappachabutra police station limits. Devotees gathered in large numbers, and police immediately tightened security. Later, CCTV footage showed that a cat had dragged waste meat from a dump and left it inside the temple.
Food waste creating law and order concerns
Police officials said discarded food and meat waste often trigger unnecessary tension, even without deliberate intent or conspiracy. Such incidents, they warned, could pose serious law and order challenges during festivals like Ganesh or Durga Navratri when pandals are set up in open areas.
To address this, Hyderabad Police have decided to monitor garbage disposal more closely. Officials said indiscriminate dumping of food and meat waste in public spaces is the root cause.
Ban exists but violations continue
Despite a ban on public dumping, residents continue to throw garbage in open areas. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) had earlier distributed dustbins to households and introduced door-to-door collection. Still, many people dispose of waste in vacant plots or by the roadside. GHMC has provisions to impose fines, but officials are not enforcing them strictly, police noted.
Police step up surveillance
Taking note of recurring problems, city police have begun using CCTV cameras to track dumping in sensitive localities, especially near places of worship and mixed-community areas. Local police will identify violators and either recommend GHMC action or book cases under the Hyderabad City Police Act.
The initiative is being rolled out in West, South, and South-West zones. Officials said this would not only prevent untoward incidents but also help in maintaining a cleaner Hyderabad.
