TEAM HERALD
CALANGUTE: A minor controversy erupted in the ward represented by Calangute Panch Joseph Sequeira after digging work for underground cabling on the road leading to Gaura Vaddo, Calangute, was stopped at his behest.
A furious Calangute legislator Michael Lobo then got the contractor to resume the work in the presence of a large Calangute police force.
According to sources, the digging work to lay underground electricity cable was being carried out by the contractor along the panchayat road leading to Gaura Vaddo, forcing the road to be closed partially for the last three days. The aggrieved residents brought the matter to the notice of local Panch Joseph Sequeira. Accordingly, Calangute Sarpanch Pascoala Fernandes dashed a letter to the Calangute assistant engineer questioning the legality of the work.
Since there was no reply to the letter from the Calangute electricity department, the contractor was asked to stop the work. An infuriated Lobo rushed to the site and asked the contractor to re-start the work in the presence of a large Calangute police force led by PI Rajesh Kumar and PSI Nitin Halarnkar. Assistant engineer Calangute Chandran was also present at the site.
Speaking to Herald, Lobo claimed that local panch Joseph Sequeira stopped the work.
““The Electricity department has deposited Rs 65.72 lakh with the executive engineer, WD XIII, PWD, Mapusa, to repair the roads. Sequeira has an ego problem and is trying to stop the developments in Calangute. Calangute village has suffered because of Sequeira and I will not tolerate such things,” stated Lobo.
When contacted, Sequeira said the Calangute panchayat was kept in the dark over the digging of the road, which was closed for public for last three days, causing considerable inconvenience.
“We sent a letter to the Calangute assistant engineer seeking clarifications on the works and there was nothing wrong in it. Besides, the aggrieved residents were inconvenienced due to the ongoing works and closure of road in view of tourist season,” he said.
