TERROR THREATENS PRIVACY - Eye in the sky for Goa beaches?

TERROR THREATENS PRIVACY
Eye in the sky for Goa beaches?
Sanjay Banerjee & Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji/Margao: Privacy on Goa’s beaches could take a hit because of the terror threat. Closed circuit television cameras could soon be monitoring that romantic walk on the beach or moonlight picnic should a Goa police proposal come through.
The police proposal, sent to the two district collectors, came after the two district SPs conducted a security survey of some tourist hotspots in their jurisdiction.
The tourism minister’s office said “there are funds for a beach management policy and we can always consider the proposal”. Tourism minister, Francisco Xavier Pacheco, currently in Moscow participating in a tourism mart, is expected to take a decision following the South Goa collector, G P Naik, forwarding the SP’s letter to his department.
While the North Goa police surveyed night clubs, entertainment areas and the flea market in Calangute, Baga and Anjuna, the South Goa police visited Bogmalo, Palolem and Colva beaches.
The SP (South) has proposed installing 30 CCTVs—10 each at Colva, Bogmalo and Palolem beaches that attract lakhs of domestic and foreign tourists every year. The SP has also asked for CCTVs at parking areas. The plan proposes two CCTVs for the parking areas at Bogmalo and Palolem and four at Colva to keep watch on vehicles as these are often used to plant bombs.
The SP (North) has made similar proposals, besides emphasising that “all discotheques should close by 12 am and licences shouldn’t be recommended to entertainment areas that don’t have adequate parking, illumination, CCTV coverage and proper security cover”. Parking areas to be illuminated
Panaji/Margao: Most of the beaches in the state could soon have closed circuit television cameras to monitor the movement of visitors.
The two district SPs did a security survey of some tourist hot spots in their areas and submitted reports to the district collectors. The SP (North) brought to the notice of the authorities that parking areas should be fully illuminated and have CCTV coverage.
Elaborate proposals have also been worked out for parking vehicles on New Year’s Eve, when the holiday crowd is huge. Despite Colva having ample parking space, on December 31, parking will be allowed in an open field and the electricity department will be asked to illuminate the area in consultation with Margao traffic cell.
For Bogmalo on December 31, the police have worked out different plans for the day and night. The movement of traffic on the Bogmalo road will continue as usual during the day, but after 8.00 pm vehicles will be stopped and parking allowed in an open ground where 800 to 1000 four wheelers and about 2000 two wheelers can be accommodated.
A shuttle service operated by Kadamba Transport Corporation will ferry tourists over the 2km stretch from the parking area to the beach.
“Village panchayats concerned may be asked to install traffic signs and to level the place in consultation with Vasco traffic cell,” the plan has proposed.

October 1, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition