MARGAO: The locals of Curtorim on Tuesday were shocked to discover that a mobile tower was being set up in a public garden in the village, with the panchayat’s permission. The villagers then forced the mobile service provider to stop their work. It may be recalled that the villagers had earlier opposed the installation of a tower in a government primary school in Virabhatt, another part of the village, following which the site for the tower had been shifted to Fondegal, a ward represented by panch member and former Sarpanch Milagres Rodrigues.
While the panchayat had given permissions for this new site, the residents of the ward and the panch members were not taken into confidence.
Moreover, the garden was also damaged by the groundwork for the tower, which upset the locals even more. Milagres Fernandes told reporters that the site for the erection of the mobile tower has been shifted to Fondegal, to the Children’s Park, without his consent. “Before issuing the NOC, the Sarpanch should have informed me about the decision. We were in shock to see that the tower was being installed; the workers even removed a swing for the purpose,” he said.
Later, the irate villagers gathered at the site and halted the work. However, Caetano Hilario told Herald that the decision of shifting the site for the mobile tower was taken in the interest of the people, who had strongly opposed the installation of the mobile tower at Virabhat. He also said that the site shown to the company was not inside the park, but they had started their work in the garden.
“However, the panchayat body will now re-evaluate the issue and appropriate decisions will be taken. We don’t want to trouble the people,” he added.
