MARGAO: Avinash Shirodkar, president of the 18th June Kranti Din Committee on Tuesday said that the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia’s statue is safe but in dirty conditions after Margao Municipal Council representative along with members of the said committee inspected the place where the statue was kept by the contractor. However, the martyr memorial was not found.
“We did not find the martyr memorial but as informed by the contractor it is wrapped with plastic and still at the Lohia Maidan,” said Avinash.
The statue had been kept in his under construction shop at Chandrawaddo, Fatorda without any cover. There was no shutter and it was not in a safe condition.
Agnelo Fernandes, Chief Officer along with Shirodkar inspected the statue and Fernandes directed the contractor to keep security and to bring the statue back before December 19 at Lohia Maidan.
Speaking to the media, Shirodkar said, “I have not noticed any damage to the statue. It is safe and maintained properly but in dirty conditions. And hence, urged the contractor to clean it at the earliest. As expected we did not find the martyr memorial at the workshop of the contractor. It is covered and kept at the Lohia Maidan informed contractor when inquired.”
Fernandes has directed the contractor to keep security guards so that nobody fiddles with the statue.
The 18th June Kranti Din Committee had warned the MMC of agitation if they found any damage to the Dr Lohia’s statue and to complete the beautification work of Lohia Maidan by December 19. The committee had also demanded action against the contractor for negligence.
The contractor has denied doing any repair work of the statue, and shockingly he also admitted that he had not sought any permission to take the statue at his under construction shop.
