TEAM HERALD
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VASCO: They were inaugurated by South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha amid much hype and fanfare a month ago with a pledge that they would start functioning within a fortnight, but most of the CCTV sets are yet to be set up in the port town.
On November 23, Sardinha had inaugurated the CCTV system in the port town to keep tab on anti-social elements and traffic violations.
Sardinha had stated that the CCTV cameras would be installed at 61 locations in Vasco and Dabolim constituencies at a cost of Rs 85 lakh from the MPLAD fund to provide better surveillance over the movement of some anti-social elements and traffic violators.
Although Sardinha had stated that the CCTV would start functioning within 15 days, one month has passed and the contractor is yet to install CCTVs in most major places in the port town.
While CCTVs have been installed near the RTO office, the Mormugao Municipal junction and near the railway junction, the contractor is yet to install the CCTV cameras at strategic locations like the St Andrew’s Church junction, near the Tilak Maidan Junction, IOC junction, Mangor, near the telephone exchange junction and other areas.
What is also surprising is that although Sardinha had stated that there would be two control rooms, one at the Mormugao Municipal Council hall and other at the Vasco Traffic Cell, to monitor the crimes the contractor has failed to set up these control rooms.
Also questionable is the location of some of these CCTV sets. Instead of making a provision to install the CCTV camera on the electricity pole at the centre of the Tilak Maidan Junction near Auto Service Vasco, the contractor has made a provision to install the CCTV camera away from the junction.
In fact, when Herald brought this matter to the notice of Sardinha during the inaugural function, Sardinha quickly directed the contractor to make a provision to install the CCTV on the electricity pole in the middle of the junction which overlooks all four roads. However, the contractor has failed to do so till date.
Speaking to Herald, some senior citizens stated that the installation of CCTV cameras is the need of the hour in the backdrop of increasing crimes and traffic violations.
When contacted, Mormugao Municipal Council Chief Officer Y B Tavde admitted that the contractor is yet to set up a control room at the council hall to monitor the CCTVs.
When brought to his notice that Sardinha had assured that the CCTVs would be operational within 15 day, Tavde declined to comment but added that the contractor is still in the process of installing the CCTV cameras in the port town.
Traffic PI Sudesh Narvekar of the Vasco Traffic Cell also stated that the contractor has not yet created the necessary infrastructure to monitor the CCTV cameras.
