Cuncolim: A fresh controversy has emerged in Cuncolim after the Cuncolim Municipal Council issued a Show Cause Notice to local resident Leandro F. Irineu Coutinho regarding alleged nuisance and environmental disturbance caused by welding, grinding, and allied activities at his premises in Demani, Cuncolim.
The notice dated 14 May 2026, issued by the Chief Officer of the Cuncolim Municipal Council, refers to a complaint allegedly filed by one Jose Dias of Kegdicotto, Cuncolim, on 04 October 2024. The Council has directed Irineu to appear before the authority on 26 May 2026 and explain why his trade licence should not be suspended or revoked under the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968.
However, the issue has now sparked debate after documents surfaced showing that Irineu had already submitted a detailed written reply to the Council on 29 August 2025 before the previous Chief Officer.
In his earlier reply, Irineu had requested a copy of the complaint filed against him in the interest of natural justice and stated that the complaint had allegedly been found to be pseudonymous by the then Chief Officer, after which no further action was deemed necessary.
Irineu had also cited Government of India guidelines issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) concerning pseudonymous and anonymous complaints.
Residents familiar with the matter have now questioned why the same issue has been revived once again despite the earlier reply already being on official record.
Local citizens allege that the matter is being reopened ostensibly to harass a law-abiding citizen like Irineu, especially after the change in administration at the municipal level.
According to the latest Show Cause Notice, the Council claims that Irineu failed to submit a valid NOC or Consent from the Goa State Pollution Control Board and failed to furnish any clarification in the matter.
Irineu, however, maintains that he had already responded to the previous notice and that reopening the same complaint despite his reply amounts to unnecessary harassment and misuse of authority.
The matter is expected to come up before the Cuncolim Municipal Council on 26 May 2026.
The issue has triggered wider discussions among residents regarding transparency, fair administrative procedure, and the treatment of citizens in municipal proceedings.
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