VASCO: Tension prevailed between two groups in Simpal Vaddo, Sancoale, on Thursday over the hot-mixing work of a road. A landlord, who did not want the road to be hot-mixed, parked his car in the middle of the road minutes before the work could start, while other residents demanded the completion of the work.
The incident was reported at about 10 am, when the PWD-appointed contractor started preparing for the hot-mixing work of a road in Simpal Vaddo. Family members of Avdoot Naik, a local landlord, whose wife was former Deputy Sarpanch, raised their objection, claiming that the road falls in his property, and he won’t allow the same to be hot-mixed as no permission had been given by him.
The issue turned tense when the landlord’s family members parked his car in the middle of the road and blocked the work.
Local MLA and RDA Minister Alina Saldanha reached the site to officially launch the work. She was shocked to note that a landlord had stopped the work, while another group of villagers were demanding that the PWD complete the hot-mixing of the road, which lead to their houses.
The locals claimed that the PWD had tarred the road in the past, and due to the objection by one family, they could not be deprived with of a good road.
Anticipating trouble, a strong police force from Vasco and Verna police stations rushed to the site to maintain law and order. Even the Jt Mormugao Mamlatdar Vinod Dalal and his team rushed to the site.
Finally, as the PWD had started the process of hot-mixing the road, the work was later completed under police protection.
