the goan I network
VASCO
Have security dogs been given more importance than the police at Dabolim Airport?
Believe it or not, as many as 22 women police staff have been given one non-AC cabin in the new enclosures provided to Dabolim police at the airport premises.
On the other hand, two dogs belonging to the CISF security team have been allotted one AC cabin each in the adjacent compound.
Expressing anger over the shabby treatment to the Dabolim airport police, an upset Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha complained on Saturday morning that dogs were given more importance than the police force at Dabolim Airport.
She has now decided to put note down her observations to the airport director and the Collector, to direct them to ensure that police is provided with better living conditions.
Speaking to The Goan, sources said the 35-odd police and traffic staff attached to Dabolim police station have been shifted into closed enclosures, known as Porta cabins, following the demolition of the old airport building terminal, where these departments were earlier housed.
While each Porta cabin is around 3x3 mtrs, the Dabolim police station is made to fit into five such cabins with one AC, which is insufficient to beat the heat.
The police and traffic police had have expressed displeasure to work in the new cabins allotted to them.
“The cabins get really hot in the mornings and afternoons, while the interiors also emanate a particular plastic kind of odour, making it impossible for staff to remain inside the cabins with doors closed for over half an hour,” said a source.
“There are two police barracks, each of about 3x3 mtrs, and one of these barracks has to accommodate about 22 women staff.”
“What is shocking is that two dogs belonging to the CISF security team have been allotted one cabin each and both cabins fitted with 1 tonne ACs in the adjacent compound,” said the source.
When Saldanha went to inspect the new arrangements for Traffic Police and Police attached to Dabolim Airport in the presence of Mormugao DySP Sunita Sawant, she expressed shock and said the conditions provided to the Dabolim police staff were totally inhuman and unacceptable.
“I think the infrastructure provided is really pathetic. I saw the rooms for the ladies and half of the room is occupied by a treadmill, while the rest of the room is to be occupied by nearly 20 lady staff of the police.”
“There is no toilet facility, which is simply not acceptable. How are the lady police expected to manage in the night,” asked a livid Cortalim MLA.
“What shocked me even more is that AC cabins have been specially constructed for each of the two CISF dogs. I love dogs, but cannot accept that they have been given more priority than human beings.”
Saldanha said she would write to the authorities in this connection.
“Definitely, I will put forward my observations to the airport director, with a copy to the collector, to impress upon them that the living conditions made available to police at the airport are not acceptable.”
“The Traffic Police and Police attached to Dabolim Airport have to be provided with better living conditions, if they have to put in their best to the public of Goa,” insisted Saldanha.
