the goan I network
MARGAO
Congress workers in particular and citizens in general went around with a begging bowl to collect funds for a bankrupt government in a novel way of protest against the traffic sentinel scheme, even as former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has disclosed plans to raise the issue of challans issued by the sentinels in the ensuing session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.
While the Congress workers demanded that the Congress should scrap the traffic sentinel scheme as and when the party comes to power in the state, Digambar virtually accepted the demand, saying it is the responsibility of any government to stop harassment meted out to citizens by these so-called sentinels. “I do not want to comment whether this sentinel scheme is legal or illegal. But the question that arises is whether the government can outsource an important function of challaning people for traffic violations to unknown
persons when the law prohibits even a constable from issuing a challan,” he later told the media.
Digambar also raised the issue of challans being issued to the violators for six or eight months, pointing out that even the Electricity Act bars back billing after six months.
To a question, the Margao MLA said the issue was discussed at the Congress Legislature Party meeting wherein MLAs had opposed the scheme tooth and nail, while hinting that MLAs from Salcete may take out a massive morcha in the city to protest against it.
Asked whether he is opposed to the traffic sentinel scheme, Digambar demanded a thorough study whether the scheme is legal or illegal and whether the government can outsource this important function.
“I do not want to go into the legality of the issue, but the fact remains that many people, including women who ride their two-wheeler to drop their children to a nearby school, have received the challans. Is there any chance of an accident in the city when the city is choked with bumper to bumper traffic?” he asked, while demanding to know whether a private individual can execute an important government function without any accountability.
Ex-Margao Municipal Council councillor and Pradesh Congress Committee member, Damu Shirodkar, said they have resorted to the novel protest by going to the people with a begging bowl since the government seems to have gone bankrupt as is evident by entrusting the responsibility of challaning traffic violators to the traffic sentinels.
“Individual families have received dozens of challans issued under the traffic sentinel scheme. It takes around 15-20 minutes for a two-wheeler rider to reach the city from Aquem because of traffic. But, these traffic sentinels take advantage of the situation by clicking photographs of riders without helmets,” he said, while demanding that the scheme should be stopped within the city limits.
Councillors Avinash Shirodkar, Manoj Masurkar, Damu Naik, Doris Texeira also joined the programme,even as citizens went around the Comunidade square with a box to collect money for the government.
Meanwhile, district police chief SP Arvind Gawas invited Damu Shirodkar and the MMC councillors for discussions on Wednesday evening on the points raised to oppose the traffic sentinel scheme.
