TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: Congress spokesman Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco has slammed Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai for “bulldozing” his way with a road beautification project without acquiring the land.
Phaldessai, however, has denied the allegations. He said only a two-meter footpath is proposed along the MDR road as part of the project under JNURM project.
Addressing the media along with John Mascarenhas and others, Reginaldo demanded to know whether the MLA could go ahead with the project without obtaining NOCs and permissions.
“The land owners have no objection to the proposed beautification, but let the government first acquire the land in question before going ahead with the project,” he said, while lashing out at the MLA for his alleged dictatorial behaviour. He said that the people would not tolerate any dictatorship and urged the MLA to carry out the work by complying with the rules.
A local resident John Mascarenhas alleged that no tender was floated, nor NOCs were obtained from the TCP and co-owners before commencing the project. “Many full grown trees were felled on both sides of the road to make way for the project, but the Forest department has not acted against the violators,” he said.
adding that land owners have no objection to the project if it is undertaken after acquiring the land.
The MLA, however, said that the question of land acquisition does not arise for land falling within 13 meters of the MDR road. “We will try to save the compound walls. Even in case where any compound wall has to make way for the footpath, we will restore the same,” he said while denying allegations that he threatened some persons over the project.
