the goan I network
MARGAO
It was 6 am on Monday. When most Madgavkars were still holed up in homes, bracing for the day, Margao Municipal sanitary inspector Viraj Arabekar with his army of workers descended at the historic Lohia Maidan.
What followed later was a flurry of activity as municipal workers ferried flower pots to deck up the area, while others armed with brooms descended at the site for a clean-up operation, leaving many a bystander to wonder what’s lining up for the day.
It was only at the day break that realization finally dawned “ MMC was on the clean-up job at the historic Maidan ahead of the visit of Governor Satya Pal Malik to pay respect to the great socialist Dr Ram Manohar Lohia.
As the governor’s visit was scheduled at 11 am and the sanitary section had five hours at its disposal to spruce up the historic place, Arabekar and his gang rose to the occasion to save the civic body and the government from certain embarrassment.
The bigger question, however, remained unanswered. That the Lohia Maidan has been lying in shambles, craving for attention was evident from the fact that the workers collected liqour and beer bottles from the historic maidan, giving credence to reports that miscreants misuse the place for nefarious activities.
By 9 am, the sanitary inspector appeared a relaxed man. Shrubs, grass, broken bottles et all were all towed away corner of the Lohia Maidan and municipal workers decked up the place with ornamental flower pots all around.
Moments after the governor left the place to head to Salcete coastal belt, the Margao Municipal workers descended again at the Lohia Maidan, this time to take back the flower pots to the adjoining municipal garden.
President of the Freedom Fighters Association Avinash Shirodkar told the media that the government should immediately take up the beautification work on Lohia Maidan. “The project has been pending for a year now despite being tendered by the government. We want the government to take up the work on a war footing so that the Lohia Maidan is beautified in a befitting manner before Goa Revolution Day on 18 June or face an agitation,” Avinash warned.
