Goemkarponn desk
PONDA: Ponda locals today opposed digging a footpath near Saint Merry High School at upper Bazaar to construct the mobile tower. Locals Viraj Sapre and other citizens said there is School nearby, and around 2000 students are learning.
The locals said they would not allow the tower construction at any cost. They said they already get proper net and connectivity, so why need additional towers?
Custodio Dias, Viraj Sapre,Melvin Fernandes, Agnel Dias, Hensel Vas… Simplicio Vas, Nilesh Dsouza, and Francis Dias expressed unhappiness over the tower near School.
At Kundaim, also locals said there are five towers and no net problem, but still, a chamber is dug at govt school premises for the construction of towers. They questioned for whose benefit the towers were being constructed.
Tension prevailed today morning at Kundaim following a Mobile company digging a huge chamber secretly for the past two nights, taking advantage of darkness in Government Primary and secondary school premises at Dasolwada Kundaim.
When villagers learnt about the mobile company secretly erecting a tower, they gathered to oppose citing that it is hazardous to the health of school children.
Following this, Ponda Police rushed to the spot. Around 200 signed a memorandum to Panchayat.
“When there are so many mobile towers at Kundaim and no range problem, why is a mobile tower constructed on school premises at the cost of student health?” locals asked.
They said there are five towers nearby, and there is no range or connectivity issue questioning doubt over government intentions.
The PTA Chairman Jokim Barboza said this chamber dug is proposed tower of Airtel company and had not taken any NOC of health, Panchayat and School Headmaster. He feared that it would harm tender-age students, besides so many residential houses.
Vijesh Naik also expressed concern over the proposed tower.
He said he is a former student of the School. Such towers mean an invitation to cancer. He is pained to see the government is not serious about the health of students.
He said Chief Minister should visit here. CM talks a lot about the development of education.
Vijesh Naik expressed doubt about government intentions for allowing a tower on School premises and fear that if the tower came up, students would leave School and automatically, School would close.
Local Panchmember Rupesh Kundaikar also supported the citizens protest.
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