This is due to the failure of the authorities to sign an annual maintenance contract (AMC) with a sufficient duration and strict conditions.
According to Mormugao Municipal Council chairperson Deepak Naik, the 52 CCTV cameras were installed under the MPLAD scheme to prevent unwanted activities and to keep a close watch on suspicious activities. The cameras were also supposed to help the municipal inspectors keep a check on encroachments by vendors. However, these cameras have been defunct for over a year.
“Since the time we took over the council, we have been hearing that majority of these cameras are not functional but the same will be repaired soon. Earlier, we got a direct feed from these cameras to our monitoring system installed inside the municipal hall. However, now we are not getting any feed from these cameras. As the issue is serious, we decided to personally inspect these cameras with the help of experts, and it was informed to us that 90 percent of these cameras are not functioning only because of minor problems and the same can be rectified with normal maintenance,” said Naik.
He continued, “To resolve this issue of lack of maintenance, we have approached South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar with a request to initiate repair works and we are ready to take care of maintenance in the future. We need this service as these high quality cameras installed at major locations are very useful to us and the police.” Even the officials of the Vasco traffic cell and Vasco police have raised serious concerns over the defunct CCTV cameras, which are of no use today as the repairs works were not taken up on time. Sources in the Vasco traffic cell said
that earlier they used to keep a constant check and even book traffic offenders from their office, but today, their plans had failed as there was hardly live footage received. They also stated that they often switched off the monitoring system.
The case is similar with Vasco police, who used to take help of the camera footage for crime investigations. Even they have stopped depending on the cameras.
“It is a matter of concern as these cameras are very useful for the police. Since the issue has been brought to my notice, I will surely look into the same. I will also call for a report from Vasco traffic cell seeking details so that the issue of maintenance of these cameras can be taken up before the authorities and resolved,” said Sucheta Dessai, Deputy Superintendent of Police and SDPO Vasco.
