Uproar over installation of exhaust chimney on a residential building at Aquem-Margao.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
People’s power reigned supreme at the busy locality of Aquem in the commercial capital on Saturday when agitated residents got a party to dismantle an exhaust chimney installed on their residential building without permission from the Margao Municipal Council.
In fact, tension rent the air at the Sundew Apartments, Aquem near the Vishant theatre after residents threatened to block the busy road if the chimney is not dismantled and removed within half an hour.
What gave a further boost to the residential owners is that the Margao Municipal ward councillor Sidhant Gadekar pointed out that the chimney is being installed on the building without any permission from the civic body. Left with no option and the residents warning of a road blockade, the contractor engaged by the party dismantled and removed the chimney.
The incident occurred on Saturday noon after the apartment owners saw a huge crane on the job to install the chimney on the building. An apartment owner Vishal Cacode bitterly protested over installation of the chimney on the building, demanding to know from the contractor whether he has obtained the requisite permissions to execute the work.
Heated exchanges ensued between Vishal and the party after the later could not produce the permissions obtained from the local civic body to carry on the work.
A visibly agitated Vishal Cacode threatened to block the main road if the contractor fails to dismantle the chimney immediately. “We have been residing in this building for over 30 years now. Suddenly, we came across a huge crane at the building, trying to fix the chimney. The residents protested over the work since a chimney cannot be installed without permission,” he said.
Saying that enough is enough, Vishal said the time has come for Madgavkars to stop the rot in the commercial capital. “Just imagine that a chimney is being installed without Municipal permission. Will anyone dare to execute the job without support from the political godfathers? This illegal action was not expected when buildings have started crumbling in the city,” he said.
