BASURI DESAI
In a city bustling with enthused activities, where tourists and locals mingle, obviously the criminal-minded too will not be far behind!
Fortunately, the police have done their bit to keep things under control so far, but they too would feel the lack of ‘roving eyes’ that would not only keep a vigil on activities happening in the city, but also record it as future evidence.
But alas! There is not a single CCTC camera in the capital city to monitor the traffic movement or to keep tab over the suspicious elements.
The project has been in the pipeline for some time now and the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is also the local MLA has agreed to install CCTV at 40-odd places in and around the Panjim city.
Ironically, the existing CCTV cameras that were installed at some places are not working in the absence of the annual maintenance, and the lack of maintenance is cited as the reason for removal of the cameras by the company that installed it.
It has been revealed that the private company had approached Corporation City of Panjim (CCP) with the project report for installing cameras all over the city. And subsequently, with the request of CCP they had installed CCTV cameras at eight different location including city, KTC Panjim, Miramar and Dona Paula on a pilot basis.
A control room too was set up at Traffic Cell, Panjim, where it was being monitored, Deputy Superintendent of Police Dharmesh Angle pointed out.
He further said that based on that the traffic police were monitoring even the traffic violations and were even issuing challans to violators. However, the entire exercise has come to a grinding halt, he added.
Officials at City Corporation informed that the CCTV cameras were removed by the company after three years as the corporation had not signed the annual maintenance contract for routine repairs and service.
A senior police officer of the Panjim police station said the police approach shops and establishments with CCTV cameras, in case of any crime in the city and want to view CCTV footage from that particular area.
It is pathetic that there is not a single CCTV camera in the State’s capital on the background of rising crimes and frequently-changing modus operandi of criminals, Shilpa Joshi, a local from Panjim, said.
“Panjim receives thousands of tourists everyday during the season and even in the off season. It is a must that government should strategically place the cameras on the different location with effective monitoring system,” she said. Another local, Rui Fereira, said like other metropolitan cities, CCTV cameras in Panjim are a need of hour, not only to check traffic violations but also for the overall security of the city.
Panjim has many vital installations which should be covered under the surveillance, keeping in mind the past experience. Law enforcing agencies are forcing churches and temples to install cameras, but what about public places which are in their ambit, he asked.
