MARGAO
Curtorim Independent MLA Reginaldo Lourenco and his rival, Moreno Rebello, sparred right in the presence of the Waste Management Minister Atanasio Monserrate in full public view on Sonsodo on Tuesday.
The duo exchanged barbs soon after the high-level meeting chaired by Monserrate with the MLAs and officials ended inside the hall. Moreno, who is the ex-Curtorim ZP member and Curtorim sarpanch Milagres Rodrigues, who came to see the Minister, drew Monserrate’s attention to the waste problem being faced by Curtorkars because of Sonsodo.
Moreno demanded to know why people from Curtorim have to suffer the Sonsodo problem when the Margao Municipal Council does not even take the waste from Curtorim at the waste treatment plant.
Even as Moreno was conveying his grievances to the minister, MLA Reginaldo was overheard repeatedly asking Monserrate to come out of the hall.
Taking offence, Moreno questioned Reginaldo whether he has any respect for those in a discussion. A visibly upset Reginaldo told Moreno to keep quiet, saying he was not talking to him, even going to the extent of saying he is the MLA and he knows how to do the work.
An angry Moreno shot back at his opponent, saying the latter has been sleeping over the matter for years now. To this, Reginaldo said, “We don’t require anyone. We know what to do”.
Reginaldo later told the media that people of Curtorim have shown Moreno his place in the last election, saying that he would do what is best in the interest of the people.
Moreno, on the other hand, pointed out that he and the Curtorim Sarpanch had come to brief the minister how Curtorkars breathe and eat smoke billowing from Sonsodo for no fault of theirs and to resolve the issue at the earliest.
