Andhra to use drones extensively, but no private use: CM

Vijayawada: Drones will be used extensively for various purposes but private persons or entities would not get the permission to use them in the state, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said here today.

"Drones can be used for dropping bombs and causing destruction. So no private persons or firms will be given permission to use drones. Even the government of India is following the same policy," he said at the ongoing conference of district collectors here.

"We will use closed-circuit television cameras and drones in a big way for various purposes. Drones can be used even to spray pesticides on crops. At the same time, they can also be used to drop bombs," Naidu remarked.

If required, the government would import drones, he added.

AP government had deployed 18 drones during the Krishna Pushkaram festival here in August for crowd monitoring.

Drones were also used to monitor ongoing works at various project sites, including the Polavaram, and the Chief Minister has been using the technology to conduct virtual inspections.

The government is also installing CCTV cameras extensively for traffic management and security purposes, particularly in urban areas.

"I will give you any number of CCTV cameras. Thousand, ten thousand or one lakh, I will give you. You can sit at home and monitor the cleaning of roads. That makes people happy," the Chief Minister said.