MARGAO: Contradicting the contractor’s admission that Dr Ram Manohar Lohia’s statue is in the workshop for cleaning and polishing, Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) on Monday said the statue has been dismantled but kept in the godown under safe custody.
However, now the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has decided to carry out the inspection on Tuesday morning to verify the statue’s status on the request of freedom fighters and 18th June Kranti Din Committee.
On Monday Avinash Shirodkar, president of 18th June Kranti Din Committee, along with Freedom Fighter Vaman Prabhugaonkar, Vinayak Mordekar, Rajini Raikar and others met MMC Chief Officer and discussed the issue.
The committee demanded action against the contractor for negligence. They warned to stage a satyagraha at Lohia Maidan, if concerned authorities fail to maintain the statue to its original condition and complete the beautification works of the Maidan before December 19.
They condemned the contractor’s negligence towards Dr Lohia’s statue and Martyrs’ Memorial. They also urged the MMC to personally verify, if the statue is safe or not, upon which inspection was fixed on Tuesday morning.
Speaking to the media persons, Chief Officer said the contractor has admitted that the statue was kept at the rear side of the Lohia Maidan wrapped with plastic for transportation for three days.
However, the statue was lying abandoned between the two temporary huts built for labourers in the worst conditions.
Herald is in possession of the video and photos of the statue and martyrs’ memorial lying abandoned as evidence, till the same were removed.
“As informed by the contractor, the statue is kept in the workshop of the contractor for cleaning and polishing,” said CO. However, in the letter sent by the GSUDA, it has admitted that the statue has been dismantled but kept in the godown in safe custody.
The CO further said the statue is not missing/ robbed as alleged by the Freedom Fighters but it has been taken for cleaning and polishing works at Fatorda.
“We will also see to it that the work of beatification of Lohia Maidan be completed before December 19,” he said.
Avinash Shirodkar said, “We have urged the concerned contractor to take care of the statue while removing it. But despite caution, he kept the statue and Martyrs’ Memorial abandoned for many days. We have been informed that the statue is damaged. First of all, we want action against the contractor for showing negligence towards the historical statue and Martyrs’ Memorial”, he demanded.
He urged to complete beautification of Lohia Maidan before December 19; else they will stage satyagraha at the Maidan.
