PANJIM: As we celebrate the 160th anniversary of Francisco Luis Gomes entering the Portuguese Parliament, the road named in his honor in Vasco has caved in following relentless digging to lay a gas pipeline by IndianOil-Adani Gas Pvt. Ltd. (IOAGPL)
On Monday contractor ruptured 5 pipelines leaving the town without water. On Tuesday, due to incessant digging, the Francisco Luis Gomes road caved in, leaving a huge crater on the road.
In 1860, Francisco Luis Gomes stood for election in the Portuguese Parliament Cortes Gerais from the constituency of Margao and won the seat with the Partido Regenador (Renewing Party), a liberal party. His first speech in parliament made him renowned as a great orator and parliamentarian. Gomes who represented Portuguese India for 8 years thrice refused the offer to be a Cabinet Minister. He is best known for demanding freedom for Goa to be a part of India, while in the Portuguese Parliament.
Savio Correia, a lawyer said Francisco Luis Gomes was a physician, historian, economist, writer, and journalist. His vision for Goa was of an economically prosperous land through education. “Unfortunately we have done nothing to honor this great Goan except for erecting a statue and Panjim and naming a road in Vasco,” said Correia.
“Incidentally Tuesday, FL Gomes road in Vasco was looking like a war zone. It was sinking in several places due to the negligence of the gas pipeline contractor. The state of FL Gomes today epitomizes our response to the memory of this great prince among Goan intellectuals,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar has filed a criminal complaint against Adani Company. He pointed out that the digging work was carried out under the blanket of darkness without keeping safety in mind. He added that no one can trace their contacts or details.
Sankalp demanded that Adani’s contractor be arrested immediately as he had been excavating without permission. He stated that due to the oncoming monsoon season all permissions have expired on May 15.