MARGAO
Saying that the tenant has given NOC to build a six-metre wide road to the property where Shiv Premis have installed the statue of Shivaji Maharaj, property owner Mehboob Makandar on Friday refuted reports that he has allowed the statue in his property at Sao Jose de Areal in order to develop the property into plots.
In fact, Makandar told the media that he has now decided not to develop the property into plots.
The Shiv Premis maintained that they will install CCTV cameras at the statue site, adding that they will take all legal permissions to ensure that they maintain vigil at the site. Shiv Premi Anand Tandel further informed that the Shivaji statue will be clearly visible from the road once the two mango trees are cut down. He further demanded that the police should not withdraw the complaints lodged against the 20 persons named in the FIR by the Maina-Curtorim police.
Both the owner and the Shiv Premis blamed the local Velim MLA Cruz Silva and the Goa Forward leader Freddy Travasso for misguiding the local people to come on the streets.
Briefing the media in the presence of Shiv Premis, Makandar said there is no tenancy issue since the tenant had given him the NOC around two months ago. “Even when I had submitted all the documents, the MLA and the people did not agree. Many say I have given the portion of his land to the Shiv Premis to install the statue in order to build a road to develop the property into plots. I want to make it clear that I already have the NOC to develop a six-metre wide road. And, I will not make plots in the property in future,” he added.
Anand Tandel blamed MLA Cruz Silva and Goa Forward party leader Freddy Travasso for misguiding the people of Areal to object to the Shivaji statue for political gains and to tarnish the image of the BJP.
He said Shivaji statue will be visible from the road once the two mango trees are cut down. “We have not touched the trees since we would have been accused of illegally cutting the trees. But, we will approach the Forest Department to grant permission to cut the trees,” he added.
