TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Anticipating law and order problem during the Shigmo festival in the city, Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar has requested the State government to take timely action against the people who plan to organise Shigmo without consent from the authorities.
It may be recalled that Ponda Taluka Antruz Shigmotsav Samiti headed by former chief minister Ravi Naik had staked claim to organise Shigmo, Antruz Mahal Shigmotsav Samiti headed by PWD and Transport Minister Sudin Dhavlikar has also decided to organise the Shigmo.
Incidentally, neither of the two groups got consent from the authorities, as authorities rejected permission to the Ponda Taluka Antruz Shigmotsav Samiti on two occasions, while the Antruz Mahal Shigmotsav Samiti was undecided over the dates to organise the Shigmo.
However, after the meeting of the Antruz Mahal Shigmotsav Samiti in Ponda on Thursday, Mamledar said they have asked for permission to organize Shigmo on March 26 and 27, the dates earlier asked by the Ponda Taluka Antruz Shigmotsav Samiti.
“The government had finalized March 27 and 28 for Shigmo, but March 28 being a Maundy Thursday, we requested the government to pre-pone the Shigmo floats parade to March 27. I’m confident that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will take the right decision,” said Mamledar, the Antruz Mahal Shigmotsav Samitti organizing chairman.
When asked to comment on the claims made by the rival group, Ponda Taluka Antruz Shigmotsav Samiti to organize the Shigmo, Mamledar said: “There are various traditional Shigmo committees in Ponda and all are welcomed, if at all they want to participate. We have people from all walks of life in our committee.”
“It is certain that our committee will be given permission, but if someone tries to organize the Shigmo without the permission, then they (organizers) will have to be put behind bars. It will definitely create law and order problem and it is utmost important that the government take timely action,” he added.
“In 1992, when I was in the police service, I had to lathi-charge and arrested people for holding an event in South Goa without the permission of the government. There was law and order problem and similar thing can happen, if no action is taken on time,” said Mamledar.
