Team Herald
MARGAO: Residents of Chandor along with the Sarpanch Edward D’Silva dismissed statements made by Salcete Truck Owners Association President Franky Gomes’ as mischievous only aimed at creating confusion and asserted that they are opposed to only mining and coal trucks plying through their village.
D’Silva said he would not do anything illegal nor allow anything illegal to happen in his village and that besides the pollution caused by the coal, trucks transporting coal are driven recklessly.
“I cannot risk the lives of my villagers as there are many people walking by the roadside in Chandor where the roads are narrow,” the sarpanch said pointing out that there is a different route for the heavy trucks to ply which they avoid because going through Chandor reduces their travelling distance.
“I, my panchayat members and villagers are not opposed to trucks carrying construction material like bricks, gavel or sand passing through our village as some of them might be carrying the material for our own villagers,” he said.
However, he said Franky’s demand that even those trucks should be stopped was mischievous. “We are not going to stop those trucks but if they do not wish to pass through our village, that is their choice,” he said.
Meanwhile, Domnic Mendes co-convener of the villagers group formed to oppose the State Highway passing through the village expressed similar views and asserted that Franky’s aim was only to create confusion in the minds of the people and fish in troubled waters so that his truck business flourishes.
