Team Herald
PONDA: Ponda residents opposed the presence of Chairperson Radhika Naik on the dais during the inauguration of the renovated Kranti Maidan citing her opposition to the job in the past.
If she showed up for the function, the residents threatened to protest her presence with black flags.
According to Shailendra Shinkre she had opposed the project by publicly criticising that the renovation work would destroy its beauty. Now after the completion of the work, the project is seen as beautiful and, he said, she should not be invited to share the dais with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and other dignitaries.
According to locals, the renovation work was devoted to freedom fighters and it was a good job done by PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar and former MLA Lavoo Mamlatdar.
Mahesh Panshikar said that she should stay away from the function on moral grounds.
The renovation and beautification of the Kranti Maidan was swamped in controversy three years ago, which settled down in course of time. However, the same has resurfaced in the run up to the inauguration scheduled on June 17.
Three years ago Parrikar had laid the foundation for the renovation of the ambitious project by Sudin, who wanted to carve the contribution and sacrifices of the freedom fighters on 36 pillars.
The work would include renovation, installing pavers, four statues of lions at entrance, fountain at the entrance, 36 pillars at its centre in memory of late freedom fighters and martyrs who laid down their lives for freedom.
The cost of the project was around Rs 3.5 crore which has now escalated.
However, according to Chairperson Radhika Naik, NOC was not given for additional work except for renovation and beautification and the additional work by PWD congested the space blocking view of martyrs’ memorial from the entrance. She feels the work was not essential.
