VASCO: The Revenue Minister, Mr Jose Philip D’Souza, on Wednesday directed all the government agencies to make all the possible efforts to maintain a strict vigil on strangers, in order to avoid any untoward incident during the forthcoming annual Shree Damodar Bhajani Saptah celebration in Vasco.
A special meeting of all the government agencies and the representatives of various vital
installations was convened by Mr D’Souza, at the chambers of the deputy collector in Vasco, wherein, the officials chalked out plans and arrangements for the smooth celebration of festivities, which are scheduled to begin from August 15 onwards.
During the last three years, the Saptah festivities were conducted amidst tight security, to avoid any untoward incident, especially in view of the 26/11Mumbai carnage by terrorists.
Like in earlier years, the police department will erect watch towers and fit CCTV cameras on these. It was informed that CCTV cameras help in maintaining a watch on the movement of the devotees and visitors and at the same time discourage pickpockets, who were very active at the fair.
The police personnel will also install metal detectors at the entrance of the temple and at other entrances and exits. The bomb detection and disposal squad is also likely to be kept on standby.
The meeting was attended by the deputy collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mormugao, Mr Levinson Martins, Mormugao mamlatdar, Mr Rajesh Azgaonkar, joint-mamlatdar, Mr Vinayak Volvoikar and Mr Brijesh Manerkar, Mormugao Municipal Council, chairperson, Mr Shekhar Khadapkar, MMC, chief officer, Mr Gopal Parsenkar, deputy superintendent of police, Vasco, Mr Mahesh Gaonkar, Vasco PI, Mr Braz Menezes, Mormugao PI, Mr Rajan Nigalye, traffic cell Vasco, PI, Mr Dharmesh Angle, assistant director of transport, Vasco, Mr Digambar Savoiverenkar, municipal engineer, Mr John Abreau, fire station Vasco, sub-officer, Mr Preetam Bandekar and Mr Rupesh Sawant, assistant engineer, electricity department, Mr Suraj Waghmode, assistant engineer, PWD (water), Mr Ramakant Desai, excise inspector, Mormugao, Mr S Gonsalves, naval representative, Mr Kishan Kumar and other officials of various other departments.
The MMC authorities have also been asked to adopt measures to clear the garbage from the saptah fair. The fire services have been asked to keep the fire tenders ready from the beginning of the celebration till its end.
Mr D’Souza has asked also asked for suggestions from the government officials and the representatives of the vital installations, which could be utilised if there arose a need for the same.
