MAPUSA
Tensions rose outside the PWD (Roads) Executive Engineer’s office in Mapusa on Friday as Congress workers protested against the “unauthorised” widening of a road at Kumar-waddo in Anjuna. They alleged that the work was done under the supervision of Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo.
The protest was led by the North Goa District Congress Committee, along with the Siolim and Calangute Block Committees. The demonstrators demanded action against the MLAs, claiming that the road was widened without any official work order, leading to damage to private property.
Congress leader Rajan Ghate accused the Lobo couple of misusing their positions.
“The work was done using a JCB without any PWD order. People’s compound walls and trees were removed without their permission. This is illegal and amounts to trespassing,” Ghate said.
He added that complaints were filed with the Anjuna Police and the North Goa SP on May 19, but no FIR had been registered even after 45 days.
“If a common person had done this, they would have been arrested. But since these MLAs belong to the ruling BJP, the administration is silent,” Ghate claimed.
Siolim Congress Block President Parvathi Nagvenkar said similar actions had taken place in Siolim in the past.
The Congress delegation submitted a memorandum demanding that all further work be stopped immediately and that an FIR be registered against those responsible.
Party leaders said the PWD Executive Engineer assured them that an on-site inspection would be carried out soon to check the situation.
Meanwhile, local residents also raised concerns, saying they were not informed or consulted before parts of their property, including boundary walls and trees, were damaged.
