the goan I network
MARGAO
Have the bridges across the river Sal in Salcete -- connecting the coastal belt to the mainland -- become havens for anti-social activities, where youngsters consume drugs and alcohol late in the evenings right under the nose of the authorities?
And, do the law-enforcing agencies have any answer to the demands made in certain quarters to clamp down on the anti-social activities on the bridges - be it at the Telaulim-Varca bridge, Orlim-Deussua bridge and the Assolna-Cavelossim bridge, or for that matter the Assolna-Chinchinim bridge?
Concerns expressed by Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro and his Benaulim counterpart Churchill Alemao that the Telaulim-Varca bridge is hit by drug menace appears to be just a tip of the iceberg.
Otherwise, just consider this. A couple of months ago, the Assolna gram sabha had demanded that the panchayat should write to the police to intensify patrolling on the Assolna-Cavelossim bridge to keep anti-socials at bay.
That's not all. The gram sabha had resolved to request the South Goa MP to bring the Assolna-Cavelossim bridge as well as the Assolna-Chinchinim bridge under the Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) scanner.
Says Sarpanch Xavier Almeida: "Gram sabha members were clear that since anti-social activities, including consumption of liquor and drugs, take place on and near the two bridges, the MP should be requested to bring these under the CCTV scanner under the MPLAD scheme"
The men-in-uniform seem to have also not realized the seriousness of the issue, more so after an accident on the Assolna-Cavelossim bridge around two-and-half years ago had snuffed out the life of a youth while returning from work. The accident had triggered outrage, prompting the Cuncolim police to reign in on the anti-social activities, but consumption of alcohol on the bridge has returned back for want of patrolling by the men-in-uniform.
Says Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro: "The situation is indeed serious. We have to save our youth from drugs and alcohol. While the addicts can be looked after by the authorities and NGOs through rehabilitation and counselling, deterrent action by the law-enforcing agencies on the bridges can save the youth from falling prey to alcohol and drugs".
After Faleiro and Churchill jointly declared war on drugs a week ago from Telaulim bridge, the Margao police have intensified patrolling on the Telaulim-Varca bridge, but Margao police station in-charge PI Kapil Nayak says there's limitation to the patrolling of the bridges suggested by the powers that be. "I personally made my presence felt at the Telaulim-Varca bridge and ensured that vehicles parked on the bridge and the approach road were driven away. But I feel that continuous police presence near the bridge is impractical," he said.
Instead, PI Kapil said he is writing to the Telaulim village panchayat requesting it to install CCTV cameras all along the approach road to the bridge to keep the anti-socials at bay.
"I think bringing the bridge and the approach roads under scanner will act as a deterrent for anti-socials," he added.
Superintendent of Police South Arvind Gawas told The Goan that he will instruct the police stations to immediately write to the respective panchayat bodies to install CCTV cameras near and on the bridges.
"Along with patrolling by the police, CCTV cameras will help to keep the anti-social elements at bay," SP Gawas said.
