VASCO: Chicalim Villagers along with the members of Chicalim Village Action Committee (CAVC) and Chicalim panchas held a peaceful demonstration opposing erection of mobile tower in the village in view of the forthcoming BRICS summit on October 15-16, on Tuesday.
Addressing newsmen after the demonstration, Panch Rahul D’Costa said that the apex court had passed an order banning new towers within 100 meter radius of any hospital and school premises. However, in contravention of the Apex Court order, a tower company is erecting mobile a tower just 10 meters away from a government school near Asma Bar, he said.
“First of all they have been violating the Supreme Court order by erecting mobile tower within government primary school premises. And most surprisingly, the company has started the work of erecting a mobile tower without obtaining an NOC from the Chicalim panchayat; the people are questioning the panchayat how the company was allowed to start work without an NOC. As the ward panch I have strong objection to the mobile tower and we demand that the same should be shifted away from residential area,” D’Costa said.
Acting Sarpanch Kamla Prasad Yadav also claimed that the Chicalim Panchayat has not issued permission for erecting a mobile tower within the government school premises and the same might be issued by the education department, which, she said, panchayat has strong objection to.
CVAC secretary Rui Costa Araujo said, “We feel that the State government has been taking villagers for granted by allowing such towers in school premises. In the past, CVAC has raised objections to mobile towers in residential area and the same was backed with gram sabha resolutions.”
“However, without following any procedure, a mobile company has started the work to erect a mobile tower in school premises. Today we all have gathered to peacefully condemn the act. However, if situation demands, we would not hesitate to approach the court against setting up mobile tower against the wishes of villagers,” he added.
