Goemkarponn Desk
CALANAGUTE: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo warned officials against fostering the growth of slums in the State, saying government agencies shouldn’t link shanties to power and water.
Furthermore, according to Lobo, the migrants who live in the slums of Calangute cannot be considered vote banks for politics because the majority of them do not have voting privileges in the State.
He said that two private, residential wards in Calangute—Agarvaddo and Kobravaddo—have created slum-like areas.
He added that people have been renting out rooms to migrants in order to make money.
They built hut-like shelters, or “shanties,” and rented them out. It is risky since a fire occurrence might put the entire region in peril. Action against them should be taken by the village panchayat and the government, according to Lobos.
“The electricity department should not issue power connection to such shanties,” he continued.
The MLA for Calangute was reacting to the recent fire tragedy in which more than 50 shanties in Agarvaddo, Calangute, were reduced to ashes.
The shanties were so close to one another that fire quickly engulfed the entire colony.
In addition to removing more than 50 gas cylinders from the vicinity, some LPG cylinders exploded in the fire.
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