Team Herald
MARGAO: The Goa Forward party has lauded its mentor MLA Vijai Sardesai for the “overwhelming development” undertaken in Fatorda constituency in the last four and half years.
Addressing the press, Goa Forward Spokesperson Prashant Naik stated that development works worth more than Rs 100 crore were completed in Fatorda which include sewerage, road widening, internal roads, water resources, water supply, sports facilities and agriculture.
Naik also refuted the allegation made by the ‘Residents of Fatorda’ that Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai plans to shift the Portuguese era St Francis Xavier chapel located near the Fatorda stadium.
“The work of road widening near the Fatorda Stadium undertaken by the GSIDC has been foreclosed as is clear from the reply given in the Assembly to a legislative assembly question. This reply is already in the public domain and as such the claim that Sardesai intends to relocate any structure near the stadium is baseless, as the possibility of any more work being carried out under the tender is out of question,” said Prashant Naik.
He added that this allegation was a joint venture of the Fatorda Congress and BJP blocks to inflame communal tensions and vitiate the atmosphere by creating fears in the minds of the minority community that their religious structure is sought to be shifted.
The press briefing was at the Margao Press Room was attended by all 11 Margao councillors belonging to Fatorda Forward.
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Residents demand withdrawal
of NOC for shifting chapel
MARGAO: The residents of Fatorda have demanded withdrawal of NOC given for shifting St Francis Chapel in Fatorda. The residents of Fatorda have objected to the shifting of the heritage chapel at the Fatorda Junction, near the stadium. “In response to our press conference, the Council stated that there were no plans to shift the chapel. However, we were shocked to know that on April 19, 2016, the Council had passed a resolution to give NOC for shifting the chapel. The copy of the NOC was obtained by us under RTI from GSIDC,” said Melwin Fernandes, a local. “We are not sure whether you have granted concurrence for this NOC and whether you have checked whether it is in accordance with the law governing Municipalities. We believe that this council has assumed dictatorial and arbitrary powers to issue this NOC,” said former councillor Piedade Noronha.
“We therefore demand that this NOC be withdrawn or else we will approach the higher authorities as well as the Lokayukta since it appears that the Council is acting in this manner to save the property of the Car Dealership Opposite the chapel,” said Melwin Fernandes.
