the goan I network
CANACONA
The protest by Jagruk Canconkars received a boost when Opposition Leader Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar and Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco extended their support on the second day of their three-day chain hunger strike at the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) building on Tuesday.
The Jagruk Canconkars refused to relent even after the CMC chief officer agreed to a written assurance to begin tackling the garbage problem within the next 15 days.
“We have no faith in assurances by our municipal authorities and unless senior officials give us in writing, we will not withdraw the chain hunger strike and will continue on Wednesday,” informed a protesting Jagruk Canconkar member on Tuesday.
A CMC team had gone to Panaji on Monday and had met Sewerage and Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL) MD Sanjit Rodrigues to discuss the issue.
Rodrigues was reported to have planned a visit to Canacona on Tuesday, but did not turn up but an official from the Goa State Pollution Control Board visited Canacona and met the protesting Jagruk Canconkars members on hunger strike.
The official later visited the municipal fish market and also the Garbage Treatment Plant at Dumane to take stock of the situation.
Expressing solidarity with the protestors, Kavlekar sat alongside the Jagruk Canconkar members for well over one hour and he was later joined by Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, where both Congress leaders had an hour-long discussion with the protesters on the garbage problems.
The taluka health officer and sanitary inspector also met the protesters.
As demanded by Kavlekar, CMC Chief Officer Raju Dessai reportedly agreed to give in writing some positive action within 15 days to resolve the garbage issue, but the protesting members refused to accept his assurance and insisted on a commitment from a senior official.
Kavlekar has given the CMC one month to resolve the garbage problem and attend to the filthy fish market, failing which he has threatened to raise the issue in the assembly, when it meets next month.
Kavlekar and Reginaldo also visited the municipal fish market and interacted with the fisherwomen.
