It may be recalled that Herald had earlier highlighted the plight of the lone football ground at Bicholim, which is totally neglected by the authorities. Bicholim Association of Football Fans (BAFF) had strongly opposed BMC’s move to grant permission to companies to erect pandals on the ground, thereby defacing the ground.
Despite the uproar, BMC on Wednesday granted permission to an automobile company to erect pandal on the ground. Following the move, the BAFF officials including Naresh Kadkade and Rajanikant Lawannis questioned BMC over issuing such permissions. They also threatened that if the pandal was not removed, then they would be forced to take strong action.
On Thursday, when BAFF and other alert citizens noticed that the pandal was not removed from the ground, they decided to stage a rally to the BMC. As the news spread, BMC authorities swung into action and intimated the BAFF that they will ask the company to vacate the place.
“We had earlier told BMC that there should be no other activity taking place on the ground except football and other games, but they ignored it,” BAFF President Rajanikant Lawannis told Herald.
“The ground is for playing and so it should be used for that purpose. If BMC tries to rent it for some other things, we will strongly oppose it,” stated Lawannis.
Following the incident, BMC directed the company to remove the pandal, thereby avoiding further controversy.
