Team Herald
MARGAO: Luizinho Faleiro and Churchill Alemao gave a clarion call to launch a war against drugs when they inaugurated the LED street lighting system on the Telaulim Varca bridge, on Saturday. Incidentally, both Luizinho and Churchill were former chief ministers.
Both pointed out that youngsters mostly Goans, gather on the bridge in the night and consume drugs and said a war has to be launched against this activity to save the youngsters from falling prey to such vices. They also lamented that the same youth cut the cables and destroy the street lights so that they can indulge in their nefarious activity in the dark.
Both Luizinho and Churchill asked for a strong police presence on the bridge, specially, at night where they said the patrolling has to be intensified. “Let there be no vehicles parked along the bridge as that is where the drugs are consumed and these parked vehicles cause accidents,” said Churchill while pointing out that two fatal accidents have already occurred on the bridge.
Churchill, who was instrumental in constructing the bridge, said it has changed the area drastically: the bridge has given access to people from Varca and other coastal areas to Navelim. With this, he said, it is becoming difficult to get admission in the Navelim higher secondary schools and college.
“The Chief Minister is keen to make Goa drug free and Luizinho and I want this area to be drug free,” he said urging Margao Town Police Inspector Kapil Nayak to intensify patrolling on the bridge.
Luizinho expressed his gratitude to the Power Minister for waiving off the payment of Rs 38 lakh for the work and undertaking it under the department funds. He said the darkness besides aiding drug trade was also causing a law and order problem as some cars were stopped and the people in the car were robbed and beaten.
“I have seen people including women lying on the ground under the influence of drugs and it is time we step in to prevent the youngsters from being introduced to drugs while also searching for means of dealing with the addicts,” he said.
He said lights were being commissioned on the eve of Christmas so that the bridge sees a peaceful and drug free Christmas week and urged the police to help in this endeavour.
LED lights have been installed in 39 of the 45 poles along the bridge and its approach roads.
Telaulim Sarpanch Stephen Goes who had to face the public demand to have the lights installed at the last gram sabha proposed the vote of thanks.
