Leading the criticism was Colva Zilla panchayat member Antonio “Mam” Fernandes, who also serves as president of St Anthony Club, Colva. He expressed frustration that despite an upcoming football tournament scheduled for Sunday, the ground remains littered with waste from the three-day event.
Fernandes also raised safety concerns about the use of carpeting during the festival, warning that nails or fixtures left behind could pose a serious risk to players.
He said he had already questioned the contractor about the slow pace of clean up, stressing the urgency of restoring the ground for sporting use.
“I have questioned the contractor over the delay in clearing the litter. We are preparing for a football tournament, and it is high time the ground is cleared,” Fernandes told the media on Thursday morning, saying he would take up the matter with Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas.
By evening, clean up efforts were finally underway, with workers beginning to remove the trash and debris. However, Fernandes maintained his criticism, holding authorities accountable for the delay ahead of the planned tournament.
