Photo caption.
Delegation of Fatorda block Congress led by President Joseph Silva with MMC Chief Officer Sidhvinayak Naik. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Newly-constituted Fatorda Congress Block Committee led by party president Joseph Silva on Monday confronted Margao Municipal Council (MMC) chief officer over the erection of mobile towers in the city without NOC from the civic body, demanding to know why the Margao municipality has employed different yard sticks to different people in the city.
MMC Chief Officer (CO) Sidhvinayak Naik tried to defend the municipal inaction against the mobile towers by saying that the municipality’s role comes into play only at the time of issuing NOC for electrical connection.
He also told the delegation comprising of Joseph Silva, and other leaders including Piedade Noronha, Camilo Barretto and Congress general secretary in-charge of Fatorda Congress, Pratima Coutinho that he is not ready to discuss the MMC inaction since the company had come with some documents for the erection of towers.
The delegation, however, cornered the CO over his stoic silence in respect of the mobile towers that has surfaced across the city since the last several months. Heated arguments ensued between the delegation and the CO as the former pointed out that nothing can be erected in the municipal jurisdiction without the municipal nod.
The CO tried to find a way via media to the tower row by saying that the Council will take a call on the fate of the towers at its meeting scheduled on February 4. The delegation, however, questioned the CO’s stand, saying that issuing NOCs or construction licence is basically an administrative action and the CO ought to decide whether it conforms to the municipal rules or not.
The delegation also raised the issue of migrants in and around the district hospital under construction and called upon the CO to act against the nuisance. Welcoming the suggestion, the CO said his office will soon act against the nuisance right at the entrance to the city.
Piedade Noronha later told the media that while the municipality moves with alacrity against the common citizen for any violation of the municipal rules, the civic body is maintaining a stoic silence on the mobile towers for reasons best known to them.
Meanwhile, residents of Rawanfond led by ward councillor Jaffer Sheikh protested against the delay in initiating action against the mobile towers erected at the Rawanfond junction. They lamented that no action is forthcoming from the municipality despite complaints lodged by the residents.
