8 months on, new CCTVs promised for Margao yet to become a reality; After Walke murder, only 3 out of 23 cameras repaired are in working condition
MARGAO
When a young city-jeweller Swapnil Walke was murdered in cold blood on September 3 last year, the men-in-uniform had to literally hop from one shop and apartment to another just to lay their hands on CCTV footage to obtain leads on the assailants.
Reason: Post-murder, realisation had dawned on the men-in-uniform and the powers that be that the Commercial capital’s closed circuit TV cameras (CCTV) have been lying defunct for want of maintenance.
As the murder triggered an outrage, waking up the authorities from their slumber, around 23 cameras were repaired and some of them replaced and put in place a month later on October 25 at the hands of South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha after senior district collectorate and police officials batted for the CCTV surveillance mechanism with a two-fold objective, to rein in on motor vehicle violators and track down on the movements of criminals.
Eight months down the line, the surveillance cameras, repaired, replaced and revived in October last year, are back to square one, while the proposed new cameras are yet to see the light of day.
Inquiries by The Goan has revealed that of the 23 cameras repaired or replaced on October 25 last, only around three cameras are in working condition as on date. A visit to the CCTV control room set up at the South Goa district police headquarters showed that work of issuance of challan notices to the motor vehicle violators have slowed with the cameras out of order.
Remarked a senior police officer: “Just imagine a situation if criminals strike again in the city and the authorities may again realise that most of the cameras are down and out.”
Traffic personnel confided that the cameras have not been functioning for quite some time now, anxiously waiting for the Margao civic body to get the cameras repaired or replaced.
That’s not all. South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha’s promise made on October 25 last to sanction new cameras for the city has also not seen the light of day. In fact, the MP’s officials together with Margao Municipal Council officials inspected a couple of places in the city where the new cameras may be installed as per priority.
This means that the CCTV cameras will become a reality only after the Margao Municipal Council adopts a resolution to go in for new cameras under the MPLAD scheme.
When The Goan contacted a senior executive of the company looking up after the maintenance and upkeep of the cameras, it was revealed that the cameras are not functioning due to snag caused by the rains. The official, however, hastened to add that the company will sort out issues with the Margao civic body over the maintenance payments.
Incidentally, Margao Municipal Council Chief Officer, Agnelo Fernandes said the civic body will have a meeting with the maintenance firm to sort out issues over the maintenance and payments.
Admitting the surveillance cameras are out of order, DySP, Traffic Prabodh Shirwaikar said he had made correspondence to the Margao Municipality since May, adding that reminders have been sent to the civic body since then. “I have no idea whether there’s no maintenance for want of payments by the MMC or delay in attending to the problem,” DySP Shirwaikar said.
