CALANGUTE: Residents of Tivai Vaddo, Calangute, along with the members of ‘Save Calangute’ on Wednesday marched to the Calangute Panchayat office to seek details of the mega project at Tivai Vaddo.
Calangute Sarpanch Pascoala Fernandes, who represents the ward, was however not present in the office. The other panchas were also not present at the office premises. The residents then decided to approach Calangute MLA Michael Lobo over the project and stop it in the interest of locals.
Speaking to media persons, Salvador Lobo alleged that a huge mega project is coming up in an area of 20,000 sq mtrs and that the Calangute Panchayat is responsible. “The locals will lose about 7-8 shacks because of the mega project, while huge cracks have been noticed in the walls of the house of Angela D’Mello. I demand the resignation of the Calangute sarpanch and immediate stop to the project in the interest of local residents,” stated Salvador Lobo.
Angela D’Mello said, “When the piling works began on the project, we could feel the trembling in our house, which resulted in the cracks in our walls. Our house is made of clay and if the work continues there is every possibility of our house coming down. The ward member who is also the Calangute sarpanch and the panchayat too failed to take any action in the matter.”
Save Calangute Vice President Nitesh Chodankar said, “We have seen the cracks in the wall and demand an immediate stop to the work. The project has been approved without a proper road, and the work is being carried out even late at nights.”
“The illegalities at the project site have to be stopped immediately. Calangute police should also support the locals to get justice,” said Chodankar.
When contacted over the demand of local residents, Joseph Sequeira said, “The plan of the project was placed before the people of the area at a meeting in the Chapel at Tivai Vaddo, Calangute, and there were
no objections.”
“We have given them permission for construction, as they have all the licenses including CRZ, conversion Sanad, etc. If there was any concern over the project, the matter could have been amicably discussed and resolved across the table instead of making a big issue out of it,”
said Sequeira.
