40 CCTV cameras installed in 2014 at Vasco lie defunct for past two years
Ruvina Khan | TNN | Updated: Apr 8, 2019, 11:54 IST
Authorities now have to depend on footage from private camerasVASCO: The 40 CCTV cameras installed in 2014 under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme, during the tenure of South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar, have been defunct since 2016.
The CCTV project was an initiative by the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC).
Police sources said that in view of the upcoming elections, the lack of a functional CCTV network has paralysed the digital eye of police and the election commission.
Without these cameras, which were installed at strategic points of the town, the authorities are now left dependent on private cameras in case of any incident.
“From safety and security point of view, it (CCTV) is always an advantage,” Vasco police inspector (PI) Nilesh Rane told TOI.
Rane however refused to comment about the usefulness of the cameras during election time.
Sources said that by 2016 all 40 CCTV cameras had stopped functioning, adding that the MMC did not make efforts to repair them.
Vasco police and traffic police had written to the municipality asking that the CCTVs be made operational, Rane said. “When required, we approach the owners of private CCTV cameras. They always cooperate,” the Vasco PI said.
MMC’s chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar said, “We have approached an agency to repair the CCTVs, but I cannot say how long this will take.”
When asked why the municipality did not repair the surveillance cameras before the code of conduct came into force, he said they did not get the time to do so.
MMC sources said the council had earlier approached the office of the South Goa collector over the matter, but no action was taken.
The CCTV project was an initiative by the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC).
Police sources said that in view of the upcoming elections, the lack of a functional CCTV network has paralysed the digital eye of police and the election commission.
Without these cameras, which were installed at strategic points of the town, the authorities are now left dependent on private cameras in case of any incident.
“From safety and security point of view, it (CCTV) is always an advantage,” Vasco police inspector (PI) Nilesh Rane told TOI.
Rane however refused to comment about the usefulness of the cameras during election time.
Sources said that by 2016 all 40 CCTV cameras had stopped functioning, adding that the MMC did not make efforts to repair them.
Vasco police and traffic police had written to the municipality asking that the CCTVs be made operational, Rane said. “When required, we approach the owners of private CCTV cameras. They always cooperate,” the Vasco PI said.
MMC’s chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar said, “We have approached an agency to repair the CCTVs, but I cannot say how long this will take.”
When asked why the municipality did not repair the surveillance cameras before the code of conduct came into force, he said they did not get the time to do so.
MMC sources said the council had earlier approached the office of the South Goa collector over the matter, but no action was taken.
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