PONDA: In its fourth public meeting held at Nagzar Devastan premises in Bhoma, villagers resolved to intensify their agitation until the government scraps the highway expansion plan for their village. The villagers, including women, sternly warned the government that they are prepared to defend their homes, temples, and village from destruction, vowing not to allow the government to divide their community with its highway expansion plan. Several social activists from across Goa supported their demand for a bypass, at the meeting which lasted nearly three hours.
Many speakers at the gathering alleged that the highway expansion plans only serve coal transportation and the construction of a jetty for coal transport. They accused politicians of working in the interests of corporations, such as Adani, and suggested their actions were motivated by kickbacks.
Congress president Amit Patkar stated that the BJP government does not serve the common people but works for the interests of the rich and VIPs from Delhi. He claimed that after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress would return to power and scrap the NH expansion plan at Bhoma, proceeding with the planned bypass outlined in the Regional Plan by the Congress-led government in 2012.
St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar stated that merely organising protest meetings in Bhoma will not yield results; the agitation needs to be taken to the capital city. He mentioned that he was assured by PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral in the Assembly that he would discuss the issue with Bhoma villagers to find a solution, but neither he nor any PWD engineers held a meeting with the villagers.
Sunil Desai, a BJP leader who was the convenor in 2010 and led an agitation against the NH expansion plan, urged the government to prioritise development and involve villagers in discussions to find solutions to road widening issues. He implored the authorities not to destroy the village, temples, or houses for road expansion, recalling that even then Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar had supported the 2010 agitation and assured Bhoma villagers that a solution would be found.
Social activists from various parts of Goa criticised the government, alleging that it was acting against Scheduled Tribes (ST) and bahujans while protecting the interests of big businessmen from Delhi.
They lambasted the government for imposing the highway expansion plan on the village. PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral and local MLA and Minister Govind Gaude were frequent targets of the speakers. One social activist pointed out that elected MLAs should represent the views and grievances of their constituents before the government. He called on Minister Govind Gaude to “at least play the role of a postman and submit the Bhoma villagers’ memorandum to the Chief Minister to seek a resolution”.
Local leader Sanjay Naik criticised the government for constructing an elevated road in Porvorim at a cost of Rs 600 crore to protect the properties of the wealthy and migrants while spending only Rs 10 crore in Bhoma, effectively destroying the village.
Several social activists spoke at the meet, including Xencor Polgi, Rajendra Ghate, Antony D’Silva, Trajano D’Mello, Premanand Gaude, Rama Canconkar, Bhoma Dy Sarpanch Shaila Naik, Sushma Naik, Zarina D’Cunha and Rajendra Korgaonkar, among others.
Ponda GAKUVED President Satywan Gaonkar and Parshuram Sena leader Shailendra Velingkar assured full support to the villagers’ movement of dissent.