the goan I network
VASCO
Verna-based social activist Franky D’Mello has accused Verna sarpanch of fooling people by laying a foundation stone on his birthday for the proposed renovation of the fish market before floating a tender for the work.
Addressing a press conference at Verna, D’Mello informed that around a year ago on the occasion of Sarpanch Tony D’Costa’s 50th birthday, a foundation stone was laid to renovate the dilapidated fish market but a year later still no work has begun.
“On inquiry by the fishing community a few days back about the lack of development despite laying the foundation stone at the site a year ago, Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa said despite floating a tender on two occasions, no one had bid and the sarpanch finally requested a contractor to recently take up works of the fish market.”
“How can a foundation stone be laid just because it is the birthday of a sarpanch when nothing officially has been done? The tender was not floated nor has any official plan been thought of and a foundation stone was laid just to fool people, especially the fishing community.
There is absolutely no development in this area at all,” said D’Mello.
D’Mello also said a controversial project of an open air hall near a lake was granted permission despite the whole village opposing it. “This open air hall has been granted permission though it is surrounded by many houses. Today, nothing is being done about it and a project not wanted by villagers should not be approved,” said D’Mello.
D’Mello a troublemaker, works for market awarded: sarpanch
VASCO: Refuting the allegations, Verna Sarpanch Tony D’Costa accused D’Mello of being a troublemaker, adding that works of around Rs 12 lakh had been already awarded.
“Work to renovate the market has been awarded. Development works of around Rs one crore have been taken up in Verna and there are more development works in the pipeline.”
“We had already taken up renovation of the fish market and on my birthday it was the decision of all panch members to lay a foundation stone. I wanted to ensure that the market is renovated during my tenure and we already have a work order in hand. If what D’Mello claims is true, our panch members and MLA would have objected to laying of a foundation stone without a work order,” said D’Costa.
Responding to allegations of the open air hall, the sarpanch said: “We stopped work on the open air hall in the property of a landlord. A resident of the village who had been abroad for a long time came forward and decided to have an open air hall in the village.”
“There is a time restriction for sound and everything villagers later agreed that this project would create employment for locals, besides providing a beautification of the village.”
“Villagers will also get discounts at the venue and we allowed the project only after villagers approved it,” said D’Costa.
