Team Herald
CUNCOLIM: Confusion prevailed in Assolna over the excavation of land near SAG ground that locals believe was for the installation of a mobile tower.
While locals including panchayat members rushed to the spot after seeing labourers and heavy machinery, there was a long standoff with the police who refused to conduct a panchanama despite repeated requests from the locals.
Locals also said they were opposing the installation of a mobile tower in that area that is incidentally located near the police outpost.
Sarpanch Perdrina D’Costa said panchayat has not granted permission for setting up any mobile tower in the village. She explained that the panchayat has received proposals from mobile companies and the panchayat has identified a spot elsewhere and expressed surprise about the digging near the ground.
Panchas present there stated that the panchayat has not granted permission for any excavation work and criticised the police for not cooperating even though the panchayat had brought it to their notice.
Panchayat members informed the police that no permission had been granted for setting up any mobile tower and the excavation in the government acquired land was allegedly illegal and thus demanded a panchanama be conducted.
They also felt that the excavation doesn’t resemble that it is for sports activity.
considering it was near the SAG ground. The villagers further demanded that the police intensify night patrolling to prevent installation of a mobile tower under the cover of darkness.
