Will these gaddas move out of the footpath near the Aquem Power House after the exit of senior Power official Kashinath Shetye from Margao?
MARGAO
With the Electricity Department relieving Executive Engineer, Kashinath Shetye from Margao Div XVIII, the spotlight is back on the fate of the illegal gaddas that have been roaring business on the footpath near the Aquem Power House.
For, based on Kashinath Shetye’s complaint on the illegal gaddas, South Goa district Collector, Egna Cleetus had issued directions to the Margao Municipal Council and the Electricity Department to remove the stalls on the footpaths near the Aquem Power junction.
In fact, Executive Engineer, Electricity, Div IV (O&M), Margao has issued notices to the owners of the five stalls to remove the structures within seven days or face action.
With the seven-day deadline expiring in the next two days and the Electricity Department relieving Kashinath Shetye from the post of Executive Engineer, Div XVIII, Margao, questions are raised in city circles whether the Margao Municipal Chief Officer Melvyn Vaz or the Executive Engineer, Electricity Div IV (O&M), Margao will go ahead with the planned removal of the stalls from the footpath.
For, officials in the Electricity Department have confirmed that the decision to relieve Kashinath Shetye is directly related to his complaint lodged with the authorities for the removal of the stalls from the footpath near the Aquem Power House.
Sources, however, informed that Shetye is determined to take his complaint against the stalls on the footpath to its logical conclusion. In fact, sources said the Power official is bracing up to knock the doors of the High Court in the event the Margao Municipal Council or the Electricity Department fails to act as per the directions of the South Goa district Collector.
Incidentally, the Collector’s office had virtually substantiated the allegations made in the complaint by Kashinath Shetye. “It has been observed a number of violations at the area, including unauthorised occupation of public footpaths, Electricity Department premises and roadside; obstruction to emergency access, parking and traffic movement; non-compliance with court-mandated removal of illegal encroachments, besides violations of the Goa Land (Prohibition on Construction) Act, 1995”, the Collector’s notice stated.
