Goa, June 30 -- Former Goa Tourism Minister and ex-Nuvem MLA Francisco Xavier "Mickky" Pacheco has publicly criticized Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas for what he describes as unwarranted interference in Betalbatim's local affairs. Addressing the media on Monday, Pacheco alleged that Viegas, under the pretext of assisting farmers with water drainage, oversaw the digging of a trench measuring one and a half metres in depth to drain water from agricultural fields-a measure he claims was excessive.

Pacheco argued that a trench of just one foot would have sufficed to address the drainage issue, suggesting that the current intervention could have unintended negative consequences for the fields and surrounding environment. He questioned the necessit...