MARGAO
All guns went blazing at the Margao Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) on Saturday morning when a vocal Benaulim MLA clashed with a no nonsense PWD Minister, as they sparred in full media glare at the STP complex.
If Friday saw the Aam Admi Party (AAP) Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas raising a stink over the discharge of raw sewage from the Margao STP plant into the river Sal, and demanding resignation of PWD Minister, Nilesh Cabral, who also holds the Environment portfolio, the duo virtually clashed and came face to face, as they were locked in a verbal duel inside the STP complex on Saturday.
The PWD Minister walked into the STP complex on Saturday morning, apparently to ascertain the charges levelled by the Benaulim MLA over the raw sewage discharge into the river Sal by the non-functioning STP.
Even as Cabral was taking stock of the situation, Venzy walked into moments later. He tried to make a point or two, but Cabral seemed more engrossed with the officials present around. Apparently losing his cool, Venzy intervened in his inimitable vocal fashion, thundering that the Minister is just to enact a drama, demanding that he be allowed to talk on the issue.
As Venzy began by demanding to know who will lay the procedure to stop violation of the laws, Cabral intervened to ask from the Benaulim MLA the laws that have been violated at the STP plant. “You find out what laws have not been violated at the STP. You tell me since you are the Environment Minister. You are the Sewerage Corporation Chairman and you listen to me”, Venzy thundered.
Cabral shot back asking whether the MLA has come to work out a solution or for a different purpose. Venzy retaliated by saying the Minister had come for an inspection in Benaulim did not call the local MLA. “You have the cruel intention. Your intention was that the local MLA should not be invited. You have used bad words against an engineer during the inspection. You should behave as a Minister”, Venzy said.
As Cabral replied by telling the MLA not to shout, Venzy shot back saying “We have learnt from you to shout. You are using bad words”.
When Cabral pointed out that he had not used bad words against the MLA, Venzy shot back “I would have shown you if you had to abuse me. Do you have the guts to use bad words against me. I will file a complaint against you”.
After the bitter acrimony, better sense finally prevailed as the Minister went about his work of taking stock of the situation, but not before pulling up his officials for the situation.
