Tensions flared in Odxel village on Tuesday night as floodwaters mixed with mud inundated homes, leading to a heated confrontation involving Taleigao MLA Jeniffer Monserratte and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Cecille Rodrigues and Francis Coelho. The flooding, attributed by locals to unauthorized hill cutting for the ongoing Anantham construction project, has sparked outrage among residents and local activists.
Villagers allege that large-scale hill excavation and improper dumping of mud by the Anantham project led to the disaster. Despite prior warnings from locals, no preventive action was taken, they say. With heavy rains lashing the area, loose mud reportedly slid downhill and flooded several homes.
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“People’s homes were filled with muddy water,” said Cecille Rodrigues, who rushed to the scene after receiving distress calls from residents. “The destruction is man-made and preventable.”
According to witnesses, the situation escalated around 9 p.m. when MLA Jeniffer Monserratte arrived with Panch member Sidney, who, according to locals, is not the official panch of the affected area. Other local representatives were reportedly unreachable despite repeated calls.
As tensions rose, a local youth recording conversations between villagers and the MLA was allegedly assaulted by Sidney, who attempted to snatch the phone. This sparked a scuffle at the scene.
“I began recording the incident, and suddenly Jeniffer Monserratte pushed me in full public view,” claimed Cecille Rodrigues. “This is the kind of ‘goondagiri’ we are facing. First they grant illegal permissions to builders, and then they try to silence citizens.”
