MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Council has cancelled the programme scheduled on Saturday to name the Pandva Copel square at Aquem after late Chandrakant Keni, even as a group of citizens from Aquem led by councillor Avinash Shirodkar, Adv Rajiv Gomes and others called on MMC Chairperson Babita Angle Prabhdesai on Thursday with a plea to refrain from naming the place as Chandrakant Keni square.
Babita told The Goan after the delegation called on her on Thursday evening that the Council will not go ahead with the road naming programme, saying that the programme on Saturday already stands cancelled. “Even before the delegation called on me today, I had already taken a decision to cancel the programme. Following objections lodged in some quarters, the Council will discuss and deliberate with the stakeholders before taking a further call on the matter,” she said.
The delegation of Aquem citizens impressed upon the MMC Chairperson to consider the sentiments of the citizens and take appropriate action by revoking the resolution passed by the Council to name the area in front of St Sebastian Church as “Chandrakant Keni square” and to refrain from naming the square. “We find it inappropriate and improper that a location which was historically known as Pandva Copel” is arbitrarily sought to be named after Chandrakant Keni and that an individual is sought to be glorified and bestowed prominence in the immediate shadow of one of the oldest and historical Churches of Goa,” the petition stated.
They pointed out that they have deep respect and honour for late Chandrakant Keni for his contribution to various social issues in Goa and for being an outstanding citizen. However, they pointed out that the citizens ought to have been consulted before adopting a resolution of enormous significance, adding that their sentiments have been deeply hurt by the failure of the MMC to do so.
