Team Herald

CUNCOLIM: Over a hundred agitated Congress workers on Wednesday confronted the Cuncolim Municipal Council Chairperson Polita Carneiro and other councillors of the ruling group over the frequent power failures and for insulting the local MLA Clafacio Dias.

The Congress workers were led by Block Congress President Landry Mascarenhas and Jorgina Fernandes.

The Congress workers demanded as to why the ruling councillors failed to take action against the “rude and dictatorial” Chief Officer Shankar Gaonkar who had “insulted the MLA” by keeping him out of garbage plant. 

Jorgina also questioned what was the reason and logic behind insulting the MLA Dias by saying that he polled fewer votes in Cuncolim municipal area. The Congress workers demanded an apology from the chairperson and the ruling group for their “wrong doings”.

The Congress workers also accused the ruling councillors of not doing anything to solve the power woes. “Since last one month we are facing frequent power cuts and the ruling group is sitting quite. On the contrary, it is not allowing the MLA to do his work,” Jorgina said. 

The Congress workers threatened to block NH17 if the power department fails to solve the power issues within a week. 

Meanwhile, Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias on Wednesday raised this issue in the Assembly. Dias demanded to know from the power minister why the work of replacing the wires and other equipments failed to start even after the same was tendered for a fourth time. He also told the House that he would be forced to join the locals in blocking NH17 if the power issue is not resolved soon.