PANAJI
Goa's former Director General of Police, Dr Muktesh Chander, a key figure behind introducing the now-defunct Traffic Sentinel Scheme, has expressed his disappointment with how the scheme was entangled in ‘vote bank politics’ in the State.
Reacting to The Goan’s news report highlighting the bureaucratic obstacles to the government’s proposal for the scheme's revival, Chander took to social media to voice his thoughts.
“The scheme was a remarkable success. It sustained itself, curtailed accidents, and enhanced adherence to traffic regulations. Its legality remained unchallenged in court. A similar scheme has been operational in Delhi for 4 (for) years. Goa's vote bank politics led to its discontinuation,” he tweeted.
Speaking to The Goan, the retired IPS officer shed light on how certain vehicle users approach their elected representatives to complain about the fines rather than rectifying their actions on public roads. “Instead of complaining to their elected representatives about being issued challans for violating the traffic rules, the former should inquire why the violator is not abiding by the law. This approach will significantly reduce the number of fines issued or even make it to zero,” he said.
Chander hinted that some Members of the Legislative Assembly in the past had allegedly sought the scheme’s discontinuation, and it ultimately succeeded after his transfer to Delhi.
He explained that the scheme, approved by the then Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar had no financial implications on the State while the sentinels were rewarded in the form of cash, a concept unhesitantly approved by the then BJP-government.
Chander, however, lamented that on the pretext of ‘protecting privacy’, some netizens have objected to continuing the scheme.
“The objections raised by people are that sentinels are not authorized to challan, but the fact is that these sentinels are only acting as informants who are submitting photos or video proof of the violation. The department takes up the prosecution subsequently,” he said adding, "The legality of the self-financed scheme was never challenged."
The ex-DGP said that he is also open to tweaking the scheme to suit the State's environment while emphasizing that the scheme will reduce the rise in fatalities that Goa is currently witnessing.
“The scheme is good…Its application may have developed some defects which can be removed but the larger question is to try saving lives and to adhere to traffic laws,” he said.
