SHWETA KAMAT
Miscreants beware! The new Municipal market will soon come under 24×7 surveillance with the City Corporation of Panaji (CCP) working on to install as many as 200 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the premise. After initially neglecting the pathetic and unhygienic conditions prevailing in the market, the civic body has now decided to be vigilant in keeping the market clean and on other illegal activities. HERALD had, in its September 20 edition, highlighted the environment in the market, based right in the heart of the city.
With an estimated budget of nearly Rs 25 lakh, the CCP is working towards bringing in the much needed facelift to the municipal market, which has become a hub for people to sustenance. The best example of it could be the ill-respect given to the cartoons or beautiful artwork on the municipal market walls, drawn by India’s best know cartoonist and illustrator late Mario Miranda. While the entire country pays great respect to the arts of this legend, the people visiting the city market seem to have different way of looking at it.
The CCP market committee, led by councilor Rahul R Lotlikar, has shown some serious concern towards the conditions prevailing in the market complex. Ever since he took over in March this year, he has been active enough to approach the authorities to improve the conditions.
City Mayor Surendra Furtado said that following recommendations from the market committee, the decision has been taken to maintain cleanliness in the market, as some miscreants were found to be staining the walls of the market as well as dirtying its premises. There were also reports of anti social activities taking place at night.
“We will now keep watch on the market functioning 24×7 by installing CCTV cameras,” he said adding that a dedicated officer would be deployed to keep a tab on the CCTV monitoring.
CCP is in the process of developing its computer room headed by the junior engineer (computer) Nikita Kerkar, which will maintain a watch on all the locations under the CCTV surveillance. Kerkar has already developed a software for the Corporation. “A server costing Rs 3 lakh would also be put into service in a month’s time, for the purpose,” Furtado said.
Mayor said that of the total Rs 25 lakh, Rs 20 lakh would come from State government as per the provision made in the Budget towards the corporation. The balance will be through CSR and corporation funding, he explained.
The surveillance will also help in identifying illegal garbage dumping near the market complex, theft and other illegal and anti-social activities taking place in the complex during night time.
