Aware the police alone cannot monitor law and order in Ponda town, there has been a growing demand from the police and public alike for the installation of CCTV cameras.
But while the suggestion has been unanimous, the approach has been different. While the public wants the police to set up these CCTV sets, the police have rejected the idea and have, instead, suggested that the business establishments and institutions should be the ones to install these electronic monitoring devices.
The Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) now claims to have submitted a demand for 100 CCTV cameras from South Goa MP Narendra Savoikar, which will be monitored by the Ponda Police, Traffic Police and PMC to take note of various crimes and offences, including traffic violations, in the PMC area.
“The State government plans to install CCTV cameras in police stations all over the State, but such CCTV cameras are also needed in Ponda and other towns to control growing crimes. But merely installing them is not enough as authorities need to maintain them as well. Previous experience has shown that CCTV cameras installed were not functioning and had become useless,” said a social worker, Hanumant Naik of Ponda.
“Since it is not always possible for police to keep a watch on crimes, a round-the-clock vigilance system is essential. Given the many crimes around jewellery shops and banks, CCTV cameras should be installed in these places. Banks and shop owners should also install cameras inside their premises,” Naik added.
Rajendra Karekar, a jewellery shop owner, said he had also placed a similar demand with the police.
“Burglars break into shops very often and it is beneficial to have CCTV cameras in prominent places in the city,” said Karekar.
When contacted, a police official speaking on condition of anonymity admitted that CCTV cameras alone would not solve the problem.
“But it is essential that the RTO department makes it compulsory for all vehicles to paint the registration numbers on the sides of vehicles, so that the vehicle can be traced by CCTV cameras installed in buildings, or commercial establishments. In the absence of such numbers on the sides of vehicles, it becomes difficult for cameras to identify the vehicles on the basis of their registration numbers,” said the police official.
According to PMC Councillor Venkatesh Naik, the PMC had submitted a proposal before then MP Francisco Sardinha regarding the installation of CCTV camera sets.
“He had agreed to our proposal and a tender was also floated. But the project remained pending due to the election code of conduct prevalent at the time,” he said.
“We then approached newly elected MP Narendra Savoikar with this request and he agreed to the idea of CCTV cameras for Ponda town. He has asked us to resubmit the proposal of the PMC.”
“We have submitted a proposal to Savoikar for 100 CCTV cameras in municipal areas. As per our proposal, the Ponda Police, Traffic Police and PMC will monitor these cameras for various crimes and offences, including traffic violations in PMC area. It will also help authorities keep a watch on antisocial elements as well as those involved in dumping garbage by the roadside road and the market area,” said Venkatesh Naik.
“If CCTV cameras are installed at prime locations, such as business establishments, market, bus stand and crowded places, it can help authorities identify those involved in crimes and offences,” said the PMC councillor.
