MARGAO: With no concrete support forthcoming from Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, the villagers of Virabhat have now decided to seek CM Pramod Sawant’s intervention, and also approach South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha pertaining to the erection of a mobile tower in the vicinity of a school and residential locality in the village.
However, the MLA has assured the people that he will fix a meeting with the authority concerned, to deliberate on the issue.
Anthony Peixoto, a local leader, told reporters that the villagers had gone to meet the MLA on Wednesday night, but he was not home. Hence, on Thursday morning, the group marched to his office at Curtorim.
“We are totally disappointed; being the MLA of Curtorim, he should have supported the demand of the people. However, there is no concrete assurance from the MLA, despite the people objecting to the installation of the tower in the vicinity of a school and residential area,” he said.
“The MLA has just informed us that the tower cannot be withdrawn but can be shifted and he will fix appointments with the authorities to find a solution,” added Anthony.
“As per the rules, the cell tower cannot be installed within a radius of 20 metres from a school or residential area,” said Antoneta Rodrigues, a resident of Virabhat. “Why should locals suffer? The one who had proposed the present site should now suggest an alternate place to erect the tower,” she said. The villagers plan to meet the South Goa MP and the CM with a memorandum, to seek their intervention in the issue.
