VASCO
Call it the Swapnil Walke murder effect, the cities across Goa are feeling the need for CCTV cameras. And some which are defunct have come under the scanner.
Vasco BJP President and Former Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Deepak Naik on Sunday said several CCTV cameras installed at different locations under MPLAD scheme in the port town were non-functional and needed repairs.
Some of these need maintenance and replacement using MMC funds if required. These cameras are the need of the hour to detect crimes in the city, he added.
Speaking to reporters, Naik said that Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida has also assured to write to South Goa Congress MP Francisco Sardinha regarding the CCTV cameras.
“While I was the MMC Chairperson I had conducted an inquiry and also wrote to the Deputy Collector about the issue. We were then informed that the contractor who had installed these CCTVs had not received the payment because of which works were left incomplete,” said Naik.
“I have already written to the MMC that we have to maintain the cameras and he can utilise the municipal funds for this. If the municipal funds are unavailable he can use the 14th Finance Commission funds given by the DMA after necessary permissions and carry out the repairs of these already installed CCTV cameras,” said Naik
Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida said that the CCTV cameras were installed during Sardinha’s previous tenure as MP. “This looks like a big scam to me. Sardinha has now been re-elected as MP and the issue has come up again. I will write a letter to him for repair of these cameras using MPLAD funds or install new ones,” said Almeida
Social activist from Vasco Vinod Kinlekar also demanded the MMC must restore the cameras immediately.
