SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
PRATIK PARAB
Margao: The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has totally neglected the need for restoring or replacing the CCTVs that were given to them under the MPLAD scheme.
The MMC seems to have made no effort to make sure that they take possession of the CCTVs either.
110 strategic locations in Margao have been suggested for a new CCTV system but only if the Council, which is at its fag end of the term, shows some signs that it is indeed serious about implementing this grand wish.
Currently those signs are missing.
"Take for example I give you a shirt, you use it. Now, don't expect me to provide replacement buttons for that shirt in the future," said South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha who had provided the CCTVs to the MMC in his earlier term.
Numerous meetings and several letters of correspondence have gone to and fro from the Margao Traffic Cell to the MMC.
The Deputy Superintendent of Traffic Police, Prabodh Shirvoikar says he can recollect 5 letters written to the MMC to solve the issues surrounding the CCTVs. The fact that there is no Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and an official handover of the CCTVs only proves that, the Council has failed to take the proprietorship of the project and sign an Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) for the future upkeep of the CCTV's.
The councillor of central Margao areas Damu Naik of ward no 14 said "There is no discussion and I haven't been taken into confidence as far as the restoration of the old CCTV system is concerned. Margao needed this system to work".
When the MMC Chief Officer Ajit Panchwadkar was asked when this imbroglio, wrapped in red tape, would be solved, he said "We are still exploring the possibility to revive the present CCTVs," said Ajit.
However, now that the time has elapsed and the urgency for the setting up of CCTVs in Margao is even more apparent post the Swapnil Walke murder.
The Traffic Cell of Margao has given at least 110 locations to the MMC, which are to be covered under the surveillance of CCTV. The Chief Officer of the MMC Ajit Panchwadkar certified these details. He said, "There are 110 locations proposed by the traffic police on the order by MMC. Considering the cost factor the plan will have to be executed in three phases. Now, the Police have to give their plan of priority locations and the Council has to go ahead ".
The term of the present Council ends in a month's time and resolving the work of installation of CCTVs at the Council meeting, allocating funds, then getting all clearances, floating a tender and then executing the work in that amount of time is a rare possibility for now.
