GAKUVED FEDERATION MEET WRD MINISTER, URGE HIM TO REVOKE SUSPENSION OF CHAPOLIM DAM WRD STAFF
PANAJI: The GAWADA KUNBI VELIP AND DHANGAR FEDERATION (GAKUVED) delegation met Water Resources Minister Filipe Nery Rodrigues and urged him to revoke the suspension of six WRD staff, attached to the Chapolim Dam service area.
GAKUVED Federation vice president Ravindra Velip, general secretary Rupesh Velip and Central council member and legal advisor Adv Joao Fernandes submitted memorandum to the WRD Minster.
Ravindra Velip explained the minster how injustice has been done to six WRD staff and how they have been made ‘scapegoats’ in the alleged shooting of obscene video by one Poonam Pandey in the premises of Chapolim dam.
It is further stated that Federation is shocked and deeply pained to hear the suspension of six ST community members who are the staff of Goa WRD department and who are attached to the Chapoli Dam service area.
The delegation further explained to the Minister in brief the actual facts of the alleged incident. They said there was neither preliminary inquiry held before issuing the suspension order nor any memorandum was issued to the suspended staff. These staff was not given any chance to record their say thereby violating the basic principle of natural justice.
The Federation claimed that the suspended staff had no connection with the alleged video shoot as all of them are technical staff (five are pump attendants) and one is a supervisor. How they can be held responsible for the incident?
The suspended WRD staff are Rajesh Velip, Sunil Velip, Suresh Velip, Pandhari Velip and Anand Velip (all pump attendant) and Venkatesh Velip (supervisor).
Adv Joao Fernandes brought to the notice of minister that how WRD executive engineer, Margao, can issue suspension when he is not appointing authority. In this case the appointing authority is the chief engineer and not the executive engineer.
The delegation members further informed the Minister that another seven security guards namely Suresh Velip, Nilesh Velip, Dilkush Velip, Prakash Velip, Guru Gaonkar, Sandesh Velip and Sanjay Vagonkar of Goa Human Resource Development Corporation and attached to Chapolim Dam are asked to report to the Canacona police station everyday.
WRD Minister Filipe Nery Rodrigues assured the GAKUVED Federation that he will conduct an inquiry at his level through Superintending Engineer with regard to the suspension of six WRD staff.