Claimed he was speaking from Alina’s office
TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
VASCO: In a brazen display of political clout, a builder abused a senior officer of the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) over the demolition of an illegal footpath at Baina.
The officer, however, refused to buckle under pressure and warned the builder, who happens to be the son of a former minister.
Speaking to Herald, the MMC officer said the builder had called him on Wednesday evening and had first commended him for demolishing the illegal footpath which was constructed on the land gifted to the council for road-widening work.
“He then changed his attitude and began abusing me with various expletives. He even claimed that he was speaking from the office of Environment Minister Alina Saldanha office and continued his abuses,” the MMC officer said.
“Despite telling him repeatedly to mind his language, the builder continued to abuse me. I then lost my cool and warned him, before the builder disconnected the call. I immediately called up the minister’s office, only to be informed that he was not present in the office at that time,” said the officer.
When contacted, Environment Minister Alina Saldanha was shocked over the attitude of the builder and condemned his outburst at the MMC officer. Saldanha, who was at a VPDA meeting in Vasco, said she was unaware of the conversation between the officer and the builder.
“I am shocked by such behaviour and I condemn this. I do not interfere with the functioning of government officers and I urged all other officers not to fall prey to such threats and abuses,” said Saldanha.
Sources in the VPDA and PWD departments later told Herald that the builder frequently uses his political influence to get his work done, failing which he threatens to transfer them with the help of the minister.
