Traffic dept has given clearance for shifting of tower on NH66
MARGAO
Why is the South Goa district Collectorate officials dragging its feet in taking a decision on the shifting of the mobile tower at Gorvotti-Nuvem when the Traffic department has given a report for the shifting of the tower from the traffic point of view?
This question may come to haunt the district authorities as the office of Additional Collector, South has kept postponing the issuance of an order to the tower company to dismantle the tower and shift the same to an alternate site.
The question further assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the Traffic officials have submitted its report, reportedly calling for the shifting of the mobile tower installed right on the NH66 on the Nuvem bypass at Gorvotti.
Otherwise, consider this. When the Nuvem villagers and the tower company officials were called for a second round of meeting on Friday last, the Additional Collector, South Srinet Kothawale and the authorities had showed urgency in the matter by calling for a report from the Traffic department. In fact, the traffic officials had descended at the site on Friday evening itself for an inspection, indicating the haste with which the authorities had moved in on the issue.
That’s not all. The Additional Collector, Kothawale had given clear indications that his office would pass an order on the demand of the villagers to relocate the tower from the site. On Monday, however, no order had come from the district Collectorate, with official sources pointing out that the order may finally come on Wednesday, with Tuesday being a public holiday on account of Holi.
Incidentally, nothing has been heard from the Collectorate on Wednesday and Thursday on the issue, throwing up questions whether the issue has gone on a slow mode days after the authorities had shown urgency on the matter just a week ago.
Questions are being raised why the authorities are dragging their feet in taking a call on the tower shifting when the Traffic department is reported to have submitted a report in support of the tower shifting from the traffic point of view.
Nuvem villager and Congress leader Everson Vales said the people have been agitating peacefully against the tower all this time, allowing the authorities to take an early call. “The patience of the villagers is running out. They will have no option than to intensify their agitation against the shifting of the tower,” he warned.
