PANJIM: Old Goa, Chorao and Rachol witnessed massive protests on Sunday over toll fee for two-wheelers and hike for four-wheelers using ferryboats, with the islanders threatening to launch an agitation if the government failed to roll back the toll fee by November 16.
Cumbarjua Block Congress workers along with villagers held a protest at Old Goa ferry jetty and warned of a massive agitation if exorbitant hike in fares is not withdrawn by the government by November 16, the day when the new fares will be implemented.
Addressing the villagers, Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira demanded that the government should provide relief to the common man and instead hike the toll fee for tourists hiring rent-a-bike and rent-a-car and using ferryboat services and spare the islanders.
He said that when the government cannot construct a bridge, it should provide free ferry service. He further pointed out that those coming from Bicholim will have to take two ferry boats and will have to pay twice; this is nothing but cruelty on the people.
Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao alleged that the government was harassing the common man and using money for organising event management.
He warned the government not to create law and order problems over the toll fee issue and that all political parties will unite and launch a morcha on the River Navigation Department (RND) office if the notification is not withdrawn immediately.
Sao Matias sarpanch Supriya Tari and panch Prashant Harwalkar along with Divar residents Salu D’Mello and Abhay Raikar stated that the islanders solely depend on ferry boats since they have no bridge or any other alternative to cross the river.
“We will not pay the fees and the government should continue with the previous fee structure,” they
demanded.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a protest at Rachol ferry point on Sunday demanding that the hike in ferryboat fares be withdrawn immediately.
The AAP leaders and volunteers condemned the BJP government for increasing financial burden on Goans by increasing the ferry fares substantially.
Benaulim MLA Capt Venzy Viegas stated that it’s now time to teach the BJP government a lesson for making life increasingly difficult by increasing prices of everything.
He alleged that the government had not upgraded the ferryboats but was now hiking the fares.
Stating that ferryboats across the globe are being run with hydrogen power, he chided the government for not being able to even run a single solar-powered ferryboat properly.
Velim MLA engineer Cruz Silva lashed out at the government for making a mockery of the common man, and for further burdening the aam aadmi.
Raising the issue of solar ferryboat, he reminded that the government spent Rs 4-5 crore on it, but hardly used it for two months.
AAP working president Gerson Gomes, vice president Roque Mascarenhas, joint secretary Prashant Naik and seafarers’ cell leader Paul Lobo also spoke.
Chorao locals formed “Chodnekarancho Avaaz” demanding the immediate withdrawal of the notification on toll fee.
The villagers have called a public meeting at Chodan-Madel ferry side at 5 pm on Wednesday. They have also invited Cumbarjua MLA Rajesh Fal Dessai and all nine panchayat members of Chodan-Madel to attend the meeting and to clear their stand over the toll fee, informed Shrikrishna Haldankar, a former sarpanch and convenor of “Chodnekarancho Avaaz”.