the goan I network
MARGAO
The Villagers for Goa have been quick to term the Chief Electrical Engineer S Lekshmanan’s directions as highly illegal so as to bypass the local bodies, asserting that NOCs from the local bodies are mandatory under the Panchayati Raj ct.
The CEE had directed the sub-divisional officers that Ms Reliance Jio Infocomm will require electric connection to energize signal boosters on poles erected by the company. “The divisional engineers, sub-divisional engineers are therefore requested to release the electric connection to the agency as per the company’s request and upon completing the department formalities,” Lekshmanan’s letter stated, while making it very clear that there is no necessity of NOCs from the panchayats/municipalities/corporations to release the above electric connections.
Taking strong exception to CEE’s directions, the Villagers for Goa has vowed to oppose the directions tooth and nail. “This is a highly illegal act on part of the CEE to bypass the local bodies. Villages for Goa will oppose tooth and nail any attempt to release the connections to Reliance,” Allwyn George asserted.
He said the VFG would request the people of Goa to be vigilant and oppose any such illegal electrical connection being released to these towers. “The local people will be forced to protest and prevent any such illegal activity at any cost. BRICS is finished and it looks like Reliance Jio’s hidden agenda is still not fully accomplished, he said, while stressing that the government follow rule of the land and refrain from illicit favoritism being shown to the company.
Incidentally, the government had during the BRICS summit issued a circular to the village panchayats in the talukas of Mormugao and Salcete to issue permissions to the cellular companies to erect the mobile towers.
