Upset as Shirodkar failed to keep date with panchayat
Will Margao MLA Digambar Kamat save his MMC Chairperson Damu Shirodkar from the attack by AAP Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
In a development that may raise eyebrows in political circles, Benaulim Aam Aadmi Party MLA Venzy Viegas on Monday asserted that Margao Civic Chief Damu Shirodkar step down from office to make way for young Councillors to take over the reigns if he does not listen to the Margao MLA, Digambar Kamat and cannot protect the environment.
He did not stop there. The Benaulim MLA mulled action against the Margao civic chief, claiming the Margao Municipal Chairperson has destroyed Margao and has now entered the Benaulim panchayat jurisdiction to destroy the village.
The Benaulim MLA, who is perceived close to the Margao MLA, repeated his claim on Monday that the MMC Chairperson was instrumental in dumping the city waste into Benaulim last week despite being clearly told by the Margao MLA Kamat not to do so.
Venzy appeared visibly upset as the MMC Chairperson failed to keep the date with the Benaulim Panchayat on Monday morning to discuss the Margao Municipal waste dumping in Benaulim. “I had heard that the MMC Chairperson Damu Shirodkar is a senior Councillor in the Margao Municipal Council and that he understands things. Today, we had invited him for a meeting at the Benaulim panchayat at 4 pm, but he sends me a message at 3.55 pm that he is attending court at Panjim and that he did not send his representative for the meeting”, he said.
Venzy then went hammer and thongs against the MMC Chairperson demanding to know from Shirodkar why he did not listen to his (Margao MLA) not to throw the coconut shells and other waste in Benaulim. “He did not listen to the Margao MLA’s fiat not to dump the waste at Benaulim. If the Chairperson cannot protect the environment and does not listen to his MLA, there are many young boys in the Council who can take over the Chair. The Chairperson should step down if he cannot protect the environment”, he added.
The Benaulim warned that the MMC Chairperson needs to be taken to task since he neither listened to his MLA nor listened to the Benaulim Panchayat to come for the meeting.
In fact, Venzy said the Benaulim Panchayat has already filed a criminal complaint against the MMC Chairperson and Chief Officer, adding that the Panchayat would insist on a FIR against the Margao civic chief.
“The MMC has not collected the entire waste dumped in Benaulim, but has lifted only the coconut waste. The Margao civic chief had the audacity to tell in a video that the waste dumped in Benaulim is not garbage. I do not know what he thinks of himself. This man seemed not listening. He needs to be taken to task”, he asered.
Benaulim Sarpanch Xavier Pereira said the Benaulim Panchayat has already lodged a complaint with the police against the MMC Chairperson and Chief Officer, adding that the Panchayat would levy a fine on the Civic body after the Panchayat conducts a Panchanama. He has also urged the Goa State Pollution Control Board to take cognizance of the waste dumping by the Margao Municipality into Benaulim and initiate action as per the law.
