Rivals inciting people on STP, says Dhavalikar

PONDA
Hitting out at opposition to the proposed Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) at Undir-Bandora, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Saturday said his political rivals were adding fuel to the fire and urged people not to succumb to their tactics to oppose the STP. 
Dhavalikar addressed a news conference at his residence in Mahalaxmi-Bandora and appealed to senior citizens from Undir village to persuade the youth who are opposing the STP at the behest of his rivals. 
Bandora Sarpanch Ramchandra Naik, Kavale Sarpanch Rajesh Kavelalekar and panch members of these panchayats were present on the occasion. 
It may be recalled that Undir Paryawaran Saurakhxan Manch and a local Mukund Naik had approached the high court to seek a stay on the laying of a pipeline network for the STP. In this regards, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Director of Panchayats to dispose off the application for stay within a period of two weeks and the main application (challenging construction licence) to be decided within six weeks. 
The petitioners have filed the application along with a stay application under Section 178 of Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994. 
Responding to the court’s directions, Dhavalikar said he respects the law and said the government had stopped the work. “Respecting the court directives, we have not resumed the work,” Dhavalikar said. 
“A former panch is also involved in misguiding people on the project. People should understand why they are inciting them. At least, elders in the village should try to persuade those who are opposing the project,” Dhavalikar said. 
Dhavalikar has appealed to locals of Undir not to fall prey to misguided interests by the opposition.