After lying defunct for the past one-and-half year, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) finally began repairs of its Close Circuit Television (CCTV) system on Monday.

It may be recalled that Herald had raised the issue of the CCTVs lying defunct through its Margao page and following reports, the action to restore the same was initiated.

MMC chairperson Babita Angle informed that the cameras, including the one in the Chief Officer’s Chamber, has been repaired and MMC will soon receive computers from GSUDA through which they plan to enable CCTV surveillance for the entire building.

“CCTV surveillance for government, private offices and public places is a must. These CCTVs will help MMC to keep an “eye” on the happenings in and around the building. The MMC heritage building, which is the most important landmark in Margao, has over a thousand visitors on a daily basis,” Babita said.

The infamous Benaulim couple’s identity theft case pertaining to a forged birth certificate had raised an alarm in the MMC and this incident had called for the functioning of the CCTVs in the municipality premises.

Now, after the constant pressure through write ups on the issue on Herald’s Margao page, MMC will now monitor all the happenings in the premises. The MMC has now begun restoring the system by repairing one camera at a time.

Angle informed that the camera in the chief officer’s cabin has been repaired. However, the problem with the camera in her cabin being complex could not be restored for now.

“The MMC will receive the computers from GSUDA. Later, we would see to it if the server can be replaced and will ensure that all CCTVs function properly. There were some problems with camera cables too at several places,” Babita said.

“Soon the entire MMC will have a working surveillance system in place,” she added.