Vasco: Just two weeks ago, the Goa Police department had held a meeting with the Police Inspectors of different police stations and other department heads to highlight the importance of having a foolproof security mechanism considering the threat perception to Goa, which is presently on red alert. During the meeting, it was stressed that police officials should remain extra vigilant and beef up security in their respective jurisdictions, especially because of heavy inflow of tourists for the New Year celebrations.
However, it appears that the claims of beefing up security were only on paper. On ground zero, the scenario is hardly different.
Herald took a look at security scenario near the crucial bridge link connecting North Goa to South Goa and found that the directions issued by the State police head are yet to be taken up seriously. Forget about having policemen monitoring the traffic; even the CCTV cameras that were installed before the Zuari Bridge on the Agassaim side have been left defunct.
As per police records, CCTV cameras have been installed on both the side of the road near Agassaim police station with the aim of monitoring the movement of vehicles. But on ground zero, these cameras are only capturing birds during the day and stars during the night as the cameras were tilted towards the sky a few months back, but not corrected. The locals have also raised concerns over the same.
“It is very sad that the CCTVs monitoring near Zuari Bridge has become defunct. If the CCTVs were functional and were facing the road, then police would have been in a better position to keep monitoring near the bridge, which connects to North Goa to South Goa. This would have also helped the police to keep a close watch on vehicles and suspects. If the authorities were serious, then things would have been corrected by now,” said Preetam Keluskar, a commuter from South Goa who claimed the CCTV cameras have been facing the sky for the last six months.
Additionally, on the floor of the House, Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho had raised the issue of heavy vehicles plying on the weak Zuari Bridge at night time and had even demanded action.
“It would have been appropriate if CCTVs were functional so that the police could also keep constant vigil on such illegal plying of heavy vehicles. Those who have to address this issue seem to be least bothered,” said Nitin Kadam, a resident of Vasco.
Meanwhile, after enquiring with the Agassaim police, it was learnt that the CCTVs are defunct for quite a long time and the party that looks after the maintenance has not turned up so far.
When contacted, St Andre MLA Vishnu Wagh also raised serious concern about the CCTVs and assured action in the matter. He said, “It is really serious if the CCTVs installed near Zuari Bridge are not working. I will immediately take up the issue with the collector and will get the issue sorted on priority.”
