The inspection of the Shivaji statue at Sao Jose de Areal by the Village Panchayat of Sao Jose de Areal.
Photo Credits: The Goan
MARGAO
The Sao Jose de Areal panchayat on Monday conducted an inspection of the site where Shiv Premis had installed the life-size statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Majaraj on February 18 with strong police protection.
While the panchayat was represented by Sarpanch Linda Fernandes, deputy Valente Fernandes, panchayat secretary and seven other panchayat members, the Shiv Premis were represented by Anand Tandel.
The Goa police maintained a strict vigil in and around the inspection by requisitioning additional forces from the Margao police sub-division as a precautionary measure.
The inspection pertains to the application made to the village panchayat on February 9 by the property owner Sartarj Makandar, seeking permission to erect a plinth in his property.
After the inspection, the panchayat secretary read out the report saying there exists a concrete column erected at the site to support the GI angle frame on which the Shivaji statue is installed.
The sarpanch inquired with the owner to produce the relevant ownership documents, wherein the owner promised to show the documents. When the inspection team questioned whether any approval had been obtained to erect the column, the owner replied no permission is required to carry out construction on private property.
It was also mentioned in the report that the inspection team walked to the property in survey no 229/5 from the adjoining properties, namely 229/2,3 and 4, pointing out that there is no road leading to the property.
Anand Tandel, however, took objection to the observation, insisting that he has an NOC to build a 6-metre road in the property to the site where the Shivaji statue is installed.
Deputy Sapranch Valente, however, explained that the observation over the absence of a road to the site has been noted since the team has come to the site by walking in the absence of a motorable road.
Later speaking to the media, the sarpanch and deputy sarpanch pointed out that the team came for the inspection because of the application made by the property owner Makandar for permission. “We have conducted the inspection today and necessary action will follow,” Valente said.
He said the party has agreed to submit the relevant documents asked by the panchayat during the inspection. Tandel, on the other hand, said he would submit the relevant documents to the panchayat body on the property in question.
“We have installed the Shivaji statue in the property after the owner Makandar issued the NOC,” he said.
