Goa Tourism dept nixes police security plan

Tourism dept nixes police security plan
Preetu Nair, TNN 25 October 2009,

PANAJI: The tourism department has shot down a police proposal to erect a watch tower at Santa Monica jetty to keep a tab on movement of people this tourist season.

“Considering the present scenario in the country and intelligence inputs regarding (possible) terrorist attacks in the western coast of India, it is felt necessary to have a watch tower at Santa Monica jetty manned by the police to keep a watch on the movement of suspicious persons,” superintendent of police (north) Bosco George had written to the Corporation of the City of Panaji on August 18.

He pointed out that there is a daily flow of tourists into Panaji and that most of them visit Santa Monica jetty for river cruises. George’s letter assumes significance in the wake of the Diwali-eve blast at Margao. However, the CCP wrote back saying “this office is unable in the present circumstances to do anything from safety and security point of view”.

In his reply on September 25, CCP commissioner Elvis Gomes said, “The tourism department has requested that they are going ahead with the plans for the area, it is informed that this office (CCP) is unable in the present circumstances to do anything from safety and security point of view (sic)”.

“Initially we had agreed to the police proposal. But we received two letters from the tourism department specifically informing us about their plans. We have communicated the same to the police,” Gomes told TOI. The tourism department apparently felt that a watch tower would hamper the free flow of traffic and said it is planning a road overbridge to ease congestion.

25 October, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition