MARGAO
Is the beautification work on the historic Lohia Maidan complete in all respects before it was handed over to the Margao Municipal Council by the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA)?
What about the shifting of the power transformer located right inside the sprawling maidan, at its corner? Was shifting the power transformer towards the Kandeel restaurant not part of the scope of the beautification work? If yes, will GSUDA take up the power transformer shifting work before Lohia Maidan is thrown open for the public or after its inauguration?
These and other questions came to the fore on Sunday after a group of citizens and Margao Municipal councillors descended near the historic place to take stock of the situation.
After an inspection of the Lohia Maidan from the outside, given that the entry and exit gates were found locked and manned by the men-in-uniform, the citizens questioned why the power transformer still stands tall inside the Lohia Maidan when the work mandates GSUDA to shift the same towards Kandeel restaurant side.
Dilip Prabhudesai demanded that the government should not go ahead with the inauguration of Lohia Maidan till the power transformer is shifted towards the Kandeel restaurant side.
“If one takes a glance at the original plan of the Lohia Maidan beautification, the power transformer and the switch gears are required to be shifted towards the Kandeel restaurant side. This clearly shows the Lohia Maidan beautification is not yet complete in all respects,” he said.
Dilip added, “The power transformer and the wall built by GSUDA have blocked a clear view of the Lohia Maidan from the northern side. When Power Minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar inspected the Lohia Maidan along with power officials, he was clear in saying that the power transformer needs to be shifted to the Kandeel restaurant side as per the beautification plan. Margao MLA Digambar Kamat was also present at the meeting. Against this backdrop, it is surprising that both GSUDA and MMC claim the beautification work is complete, which is not so as per the ground reality.”
Shadow Council convenor Savio Coutinho echoed similar sentiments saying the Lohia Maidan should be inaugurated only after the completion of the project in all respects.
“We had come here for an inspection after reports spoke of the inauguration of the Lohia Maidan. Unless the power transformer is shifted to the Kandil restaurant side, the beautification work will not be complete,” he said.
Social activist Anthony D’Silva suspected foul play behind the delay in completing the Lohia Maidan beautification works. “I suspect something fishy when the work is delayed under one pretext or the other. I think the government is delaying the completion of the project to deny the public meeting facility for the people to express their opinion,” he said.
Activist Jose Marie Miranda, Goa Forward councillors Lyndon Pereira, Johnny Crasto, Francis Joanes, Nimisha Faleiro, Raju Naik, councillor Sunita Paradkar, besides leaders Mohandas Lolienkar were present for the inspection.
The entry and exit gates of Lohia Maidan were found locked and the entire place was manned by Margao police personnel, who even questioned the citizens for clicking photographs of the beautified place.
