TEAM HERALD
CALANGUTE: In yet another face-off, Calangute panchayat led by Joseph Sequeira stopped the road-widening and hot-mixing works at Tivai Vaddo, Calangute, on Thursday, barely hours after Calangute MLA Michael Lobo had inaugurated the project.
While a defiant Sequeira argued that the works were carried out on panchayat roads without any NOC or taking the panchayat into confidence, Lobo asserted that the developmental works were in the interest of the villagers of Calangute.
Speaking at the inaugural function, Lobo said: “We have inaugurated the construction of cross drain, shouldering of roads and hot mixing of the internal roads in Gaura Vaddo (West), Tivai Vaddo and Madda Vaddo at Rs 2.50 crore.”
“We request villagers to co-operate with the contractor as few compound walls may have to be broken to bring in the machinery, but it will be repaired free of cost once the work is completed. The work is being undertaken by a contractor through PWD and will be completed as soon as possible,” informed Lobo.
Incidentally, the road works inaugurated by the MLA form part of the ward represented by his friend-turned-foe and Calangute Panch Sequeira. On learning about the developmental works, Sequeira was outraged and asked the PWD officials to stop the work immediately.
“How can the Calangute MLA begin the work on panchayat roads without taking the sarpanch or Calangute panchayat into confidence? We had, in fact, planned the roads in March 2014 after completing the pending sewerage works in Calangute,” said Sequeira.
“I had got sanctioned the road works to the tune of Rs 1.70 crore from PWD for my Gaura Vaddo, but had asked the PWD officials to delay the work to avoid duplication and wastage of public money. I am surprised with the development and will stop the work as it comes under the jurisdiction of Calangute panchayat and nobody can go ahead with the work,” said Sequeira.
