Team Herald
VALPOI: Ansulem villagers from Sattari Taluka remained firm on their demand “No Road No Vote”, for the upcoming Lok Sabha election on April 23.
North Goa District Collector and District Election Officer R Meneka on Friday met the villagers to convince them to cast their vote and assured to address their demand to the Screening Committee. But the villagers told the district collector that they will go to vote only if the road work commences.
Meanwhile, Meneka also asked the PWD top officials to visit and speak to the villagers and explain the status of work. Additional collector Gopal Parsekar, mamlatdar and joint mamlatdar were also present.
While addressing mediapersons after the meeting, Meneka said that as the people of Ansulem village have planned not to cast their vote, efforts were accordingly made to make them understand and cast their vote. She added that the the process, for the construction of road has already started and that the estimate has been prepared after the administration approval and that the file has been processed for expenditure sanction.
“I have tried to explain to the locals since the model Code of Conduct is already in force no new work can be sanctioned. However, for urgent work, there is a provision of work with the Screening Committee. The further process is in work. We will take this matter to the PWD top level officials and will request the PWD department if this matter can be put up with Screening Committee by which this process can be looked at,” the collector explained.
“We have also appealed to the locals that voting is their right. So that they excise their franchise and the demand of villagers for road will be taken up,” she added.
