MAPUSA: The Goa government has converted the old judicial lock-up in Mapusa town into a detention centre for foreign nationals, who are staying in Goa, after expiry of their valid visas.
The foreigners who are found staying illegally in the State will be kept in the detention centre till the procedure to deport them is completed. The government has spent Rs 50 lakh to convert the old sub-jail in town to a detention centre and this is the second of its type in India.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant during the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday said that the government is taking all the necessary steps to see that the foreigners residing in Goa illegally without valid visas will be detained and deported back to their country.
“The government could not detain the foreigners as there was no detention centre to place them. All facilities at the detention centre would be provided by the Social Welfare Department while its security would be managed by the State police. Foreigners with a criminal background should be detained and deported,” said Sawant.
He further went on to speak about the emergency helpline number “112” which will be launched in Goa for cases pertaining to law and order problem.
“On calling this helpline number the police will reach the spot within 10 to 15 minutes. There is no need for the people to take law into their hands. The police will definitely act and we will work towards stopping all the illegal activities,” said Sawant.
The procedure of restriction and deportation of the foreign nationals will be dealt by the Foreigner’s Regional Registration Office (FRRO) Panjim. The detention centre has the capacity to accommodate 24 detainees and has provisions for both males and females.
Speaking on the occasion, Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza pointed out that this facility was the need of the hour for the last couple of years. “This was one of the first centres in Goa and we are lucky to have it in Mapusa, my constituency,” said D’Souza.
IGP Jaspal Singh, Chairperson of Mapusa Municipal Council Ryan Braganza and other councillors were present.
