MAPUSA
The temple committee members volunteered to bring down the cottages and plant trees in its place if the administration fails to clear the cottages by the eighth day. As decided, the Babraeshwar Devasthan Trust convened a public meeting in front of the Shantadurga temple at Calangute Tinto on Sunday morning to protest against the delay in clearing the 30-metre buffer zone around the crematorium, which was shown as settlement zone in the recently opened Land Use Map of Calangute. Around 500 people including other temple committee members were present for the meeting. Both Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and Deputy Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira came in for criticism for failing to take action on the issue. Local MLA Lobo was present for the meeting. Speaking on the occasion, Gurudas Shirodkar said local leaders including the MLA were delaying in taking action on the illegal cottages. “Our leaders are using delay tactics in taking action on the illegal cottages. Therefore, we have lost trust on both our leaders,” said Shirodkar apparently referring to the local MLA, Michael Lobo and Calangute Deputy Sarpanch, Joseph Sequeira. “We will give eight days to the administration to clear the cottages or else we will bring down the cottages and plant trees in the area on the ninth day,” he warned. Premanand Diukar informed that the temple committee had made several letters to many departments to find out the exact position on the buffer zone issue. “There were attempts to distract and fool us. That is why we have all come together on this platform. We have started this protest and will not rest until we succeed,” Diukar charged. Agitated committee members warned that they would enforce a shutdown in Calangute for the cause.
