NT NETWORK
DRAMAPUR
Vigilant villagers of Dramapur-Sirlim on Wednesday night stalled attempts to install a mobile tower illegally in a low-lying area in Sirlim under the cover of darkness. Later the panchayat lodged a complaint with Margao police as the promoters failed to produce necessary permissions.
The incident came to light at around 12.45 am when some villagers noticed movement of heavy machinery and concrete mixer at Sirlim and quickly alerted the panchayat members and other villagers. More villagers rushed to the site and found a deep excavation along with a trailer which was laden with the mobile tower.
The villagers informed that the truck carrying the equipment had a board pasted ‘on government duty’ to misguide the public which further angered the villagers. The sarpanch Bernado Rebelo along with panch member Dominic Noronha asked the workers at the site to produce the permissions however they failed to do so.
The villagers intimated the police who rushed to the site and took custody of the vehicles and later lodged a complaint. Angry villagers also forced the workers to restore the land which was dug up illegally.
Later speaking to reporters, panch member Noronha said that the panchayat has been struggling to keep illegal mobile towers at bay. He said that while the government is not taking up the issue plaguing the people but government machinery is being used for illegal
activities.