Calangute: Two Candolim activist-residents, Glenn Fernandes and Derrick Gonsalves, were detained by Calangute police on Thursday evening after they tried to stop ‘development’ work being supervised by MLA Michael Lobo at Sinquerim.The two alleged that workers were digging to lay underground electricity cables and constructing a footpath over the land by encroaching on private property without acquiring it.Fernandes said, “The owner of the land, Costao Fernandes, had filed complaints about the illegal work with various authorities in May, but the work was started again on Thursday. The ward member is claiming that he’s given consent when no consent has been given.”Lobo, however, said there was a Supreme Court order “to make right of way for footpath. This is public work”.When the activists tried to stop the work, Lobo asked the Calangute police, who were present at the spot, to take them into custody. Police said the two were detained as a preventive measure.Another resident, Roshan Mathias, also objected to the work and reminded the MLA that the issue had been discussed at a meeting of the Candolim panchayat, where certain concerns were raised.
