MAPUSA
Former Tivim MLA Kiran Kandolkar has accused Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar of illegally establishing a political office within a school premises in Colvale.
Kandolkar announced plans to file a formal complaint against Halarnkar with the appropriate authorities soon.
Kandolkar also claimed that Halarnkar’s school was constructed unlawfully, highlighting that the matter is currently under consideration in a writ petition before the High Court. “The fisheries minister has set up a political office in the school premises, which is illegal. It lacks the necessary panchayat NOC and does not meet setback requirements. Instead of operating an educational institution, he has transformed it into a political adda. We will be filing a complaint against him shortly,” Kandolkar stated.
The former MLA suggested that Halarnkar’s frustration stems from failed plans to host the Sunburn music festival in the constituency and the growing opposition from Tivim residents against a proposed private university in the village.
Recently, Minister Halarnkar made disparaging comments about Kandolkar during a media interaction.
In response, Kandolkar noted that while it is customary for a primary school to be established on Housing Board properties, Halarnkar has set up a higher secondary school on the Colvale Housing Board land, which he asserts violates board statutes and is thus illegal.
Kandolkar added that the Mini Satellite Township Association has filed a writ petition against Halarnkar’s school in the Colvale Housing Board.
“In a housing board, one can purchase only one plot. However, since joining the BJP, the minister has acquired an additional plot, which is illegal. Changing the institution’s name does not make it legal when the directors remain the same,” he explained.
Furthermore, he stated that residents of the Mini Satellite Township have lodged multiple complaints with the housing board regarding Halarnkar’s activities, but alleged that the board has failed to act due to political pressure.
Halarnkar denies setting up political office in school premises
MAPUSA: Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar has dismissed allegations that he established a political office within a school premises, asserting that he merely meets with people there in his capacity as chairman of the governing society.
“It’s not a political office; there is no party flag. As the chairman, I meet people at that location,” Halarnkar stated.
Responding to criticisms about the nature of the office, Halarnkar clarified that it is not a permanent structure but rather a fabricated setup.
In addressing claims that Housing Board properties can only house primary schools, Halarnkar pointed out examples of other institutions operating beyond that level.
“The school in Ganeshpuri, located within the Mapusa Housing Board, operates up to the 12th standard, and Vidya Prabodhini in Porvorim offers programmes up to graduation,” he explained.
“Housing Board land is designated for institutional purposes, and there are no restrictions against running schools that provide education beyond the primary level,” Halarnkar emphasised, defending the legality of the school in question.
