VASCO
Through the removal of decorations was scheduled at 11 am, MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes along with Mormugao DySP Sawant were at the site at about 9.30 am and interacted with Murgaoncha Raja supporters to facilitate the peaceful removal of enclosures around the shed.
"We will remove temporary partitions, false ceiling and decorations at the shed so that activities are visible from the road. We will not demolish the upper roof, structure and fabrication with pipes," Fernandes assured the Murgaoncha Raja group before the drive started.
A large crowd gathered at the site initially raised objections on grounds that decorations were being removed on the basis of baseless allegations of illegal activities.
Sources said the Murgaoncha Raja group had also sent a representation to the South Goa district Collector for a stay on the drive, but the petition was rejected.
Sources said police teams from various parts of South Goa led by Mormugao DySP Sunita Sawant and police inspectors were deputed to maintain law and order, while 50 MMC staff were pressed into service.
The Murgaoncha Raja group extended cooperation following the intervention of DySP Sawant.
The group then had a brief discussion in the pandal and it was decided that the Murgaoncha Raja group would cooperate with municipal authorities in removing the decorations.
