Team Herald
VASCO: Residents of the port town have raised their concerns over the lack of security at the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) in Vasco, which has proved to be a safe haven for beggars and miscreants.
The building’s ground floor, which houses the government offices, is kept open throughout the night and this has caused concern among the locals who fear any untoward incident.
The residents claim with no watchman to maintain a watch, beggars and unknown persons sleep and roam freely in the premises.
Vikram Sarmalkar, one resident claimed that the ground floor has turned out to be a safe haven for the miscreants. Several beggars and unknown persons are seen roaming around and inside the building late night. “The building needs to be closed at night or at least watchmen should be appointed to maintain vigil. When will our elected representatives wake up and take action against such activities? Will they act after some untoward incident occurs?” Sarmalkar asked.
Another resident Kuldeep Singh said it is wrong on the part of government authorities to neglect their own building and then play the blame game when some incidents or crimes take place. CCTV cameras should be installed on the ground floor, a security guard needs to be appointed and the building door should be closed to keep anti-social elements at bay.
Kiran, a Vasco resident claimed that there are several illegal activities taking place on the ground floor. There is no CCTV surveillance or no guard present late night and in future drugs, prostitution and other anti-social activities could take place. If any crime such as murder and rape takes place in the premises at night then who would be held responsible? Kiran questioned.
Mormugao Deputy Collector Paresh Faldessai admitted that the ground floor of the municipality building houses important government offices and presently the premises is left open.
Faldessai informed that he had instructed the municipality chief officer to immediately appoint a security guard following the death of a seven-year-old boy recently during the Saptah.
Faldessai assured to follow up the matter with Chief Officer. However, efforts to contact MMC chairperson Nandadeep Raut proved futile.
Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar stressed upon the need to deploy policemen at the sub- treasury office. “Following the recent ODF inspection, which was held for two days, we have kept two watchmen on duty at the municipality at night till 10 pm,” he added. He also said that it becomes difficult to lock the ground floor as there are other government offices which need to be open in the morning. “These days at the civil supply office inside the MMC premise, there is some official or the other, whose work is related to natural calamity on night duty,” the CO added.
