With almost zero police patrolling in the residential neighbourhoods to the missing nakabandis at major entry and exit points of the towns and villages, the police seem to be missing in action, and the thieves and anti-social elements have a field day…and night.
The spike in the number of hit-and-run cases, burglaries on educational campuses, illegal liquor trade, drugs and rising crime against minors and women, are a testimony to the falling standards of policing. All while nearly 10,000 athletes and officials are currently attending the National Games hosted at different venues in the State.
At every instance, when a major tragedy strikes or statistics pointing at the grim situation are released, a slew of measures are announced. Just like in October last year, when Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced the preparation of a Road Safety Management Plan and invited public opinion through an open forum and then earlier this year after the Banastarim accident an all-out attack against drunken driving was announced. Neither the Road Safety Management Plan has seen the light of day nor do we see any major progress on keeping drunken driving in check. Or is it that after Goa Police’s ‘very strict action plan’ against drunken driving, those who intend to drink now don’t do it within the borders of Goa but illegally transport the liquor across the border from under the nose and eyes of Goa Police? How else do you explain the rampant unchecked illegal export of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth crores of rupees being intercepted in neighbouring States?
After the Banastarim accident, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho recollected his suggestion that guests who exit bars after drinking should be provided with taxis. He recollected the obnoxious manner in which it was responded to then. But far from executing such an idea by going overboard, has the Transport Department even formed special squads to ensure better driving experience for motorists by keeping the rash and negligent drivers off the roads? With the expansion of National Highways, the heavy vehicles that commute through the villages have very little regard for the local population and the smaller vehicles.
During the day, you can see cops in groups hiding from normal view at bends and turns on roads all set to dish out challans to those riding without helmets, insurance certificates, etc, but incidents of ‘challan scam’ raise a question over their genuineness. Has the time not arrived when cops should be made to stand near the CCTVs and issue challans under the full view of cameras?
Time and again the question of CCTVs, alcometers, AI-powered traffic signals, streamlining of road infrastructure and traffic management are discussed at the government and public fora. On most occasions, announcements are made to calm down the agitated citizens and forgotten over a short period of time. Despite the absolute majority the government enjoys, one wonders what stops it from enforcing better mechanisms to chase down the increasing crime rate in Goa?
The tourism season is officially here and in the coming months, lakhs of tourists will arrive in the State. During this period Goa will also be hosting some of the most important global events in the entertainment industry. Has Goa Police drawn a map for the tourism season or are we going to witness yet another year of increasing crime rate, loss of precious lives and corrupt practices? It’s time the government and its police force roll up their sleeves and get into action.
