SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: With the contractor appointed by GSUDA failing to complete the beatification works of the historical Lohia Maidan at Margao, and with no other option, freedom fighters and citizens were forced to observe the 113th birth
anniversary of Ram Manohar Lohia in a low-key manner, with just the garlanding of his statue.
On Thursday, committee members of the 18th June Kranti Din Committee along with veteran freedom fighter Vaman Prabhugaonkar observed the birth anniversary of Ram Manohar Lohia, a key member of the Indian independence movement, at the unfinished Maidan.
Committee members told O Heraldo that they did not organize any function to mark the day due to ongoing work of beautification at Lohia Maidan but are hopeful that the renovated Maidan will be inaugurated in a couple of days.
It is pertinent to note that the contractor was given March 15 as the final deadline to complete the beautification works, but he failed. The contractor was supposed to hand over the Maidan to the Margao Municipality immediately. The renovation project has been underway for over two years now, with the contractor also missing his previous ‘deadlines’ of February 2022 and December 2022.
Speaking to O Heraldo, Avinash Shirodkar, President of the 18th June Kranti Din Committee said that they were forced to observe the birth anniversary of the celebrated freedom fighter in a very subdued manner.
“Actually, the Committee used to organise a special programme at the Lohia Maidan on the birth anniversary of Ram Manohar Lohia every year. We were waiting for the contractor to complete the work at least this March,” he rued.
He added that the Committee also organises programmes such as medical camps for rickshaw drivers, and for school children.
Shirodkar urged the contractor to complete the works at the earliest, and appealed to citizens to
keep the revamped Lohia Maidan clean.
