MAPUSA
Upset over plans to install a mobile tower in the premises of a government primary school, locals of Chivar, Anjuna gathered in large numbers opposing the tower in the residential area.
A large number of villagers gathered outside the school and protested against the tower which according to them is a residential area.
The company officials who had come to install the tower had to beat a hasty retreat after the villagers refused to bow down.
The villagers claimed that around six mobile towers already existed in the coastal village and there was no need for another one.
“They want to install a tower in the school premises. The children attending the school are small and don’t understand what is radiation. We don’t want a tower in the school,” a local argued.
He said the company officials claimed that they have permission from the collector but they have not taken permission from the local panchayat.
“The radiation will affect the minds of our kids. They cannot take a decision to install a tower without consulting the panchayat. Villagers are supreme. We will not allow the tower in the area,” said Satyavan Harmalkar, a local from Chivar, Anjuna.
A spokesman of the company who was present at the site said that as per new government regulation, PWD is the final authority to issue permission and therefore there was no need to take permission of the panchayat.
Anjuna Sarpanch, Savio Almeida said that he will write to the education department about the objection to the tower by locals.
“They claim that panchayat permission is not required to install the tower. But when villagers are against the project which could lead to a law and order problem then the work has to be stopped,” Almeida said.
“Any work or development activity happens in the jurisdiction of the panchayat then that local panchayat should be informed so that we can explain to the people whenever issues arise. Some people do not follow this and therefore create confusion,” he added.
A large police force was also present at the site.
The company officials who had come to install the tower had to beat a hasty retreat after the villagers refused to bow down.
The villagers claimed that around six mobile towers already existed in the coastal village and there was no need for another one.
“They want to install a tower in the school premises. The children attending the school are small and don’t understand what is radiation. We don’t want a tower in the school,” a local argued.
He said the company officials claimed that they have permission from the collector but they have not taken permission from the local panchayat.
“The radiation will affect the minds of our kids. They cannot take a decision to install a tower without consulting the panchayat. Villagers are supreme. We will not allow the tower in the area,” said Satyavan Harmalkar, a local from Chivar, Anjuna.
A spokesman of the company who was present at the site said that as per new government regulation, PWD is the final authority to issue permission and therefore there was no need to take permission of the panchayat.
Anjuna Sarpanch, Savio Almeida said that he will write to the education department about the objection to the tower by locals.
“They claim that panchayat permission is not required to install the tower. But when villagers are against the project which could lead to a law and order problem then the work has to be stopped,” Almeida said.
“Any work or development activity happens in the jurisdiction of the panchayat then that local panchayat should be informed so that we can explain to the people whenever issues arise. Some people do not follow this and therefore create confusion,” he added.
A large police force was also present at the site.
