Mopa: The opposition to what is being seen as the bulldozing of people’s rights in the construction of the Mopa link road by demolishing fruit-bearing and livelihood-giving trees, has escalated. In a full-blown confrontation, the people want a response to their pending letter to the Dy Collector demanding to know on what basis was the land (outside the forest area) acquired.
On Sunday morning they blocked the roads asking how can work on the road continue when the Panchayat has ordered work to be stopped. They were also unequivocally clear that work on the road will not start unless the Collector North Goa meets them.
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The situation turned tense on Sunday after the protestors opposing Mopa Link Road blocked the road leading to Mopa Airport site for two hours and refused to call off the blockade, demanding the North Goa Collector, SP North, and Special Land Acquisition officer to come at the site.
Protestors have given an ultimatum of 24 hours to the Pernem police inspector to stop the work failing which, the protest will continue before the office of Pernem PI.
The Pernem Mamlatdar, Anant Malik, along with Pernem Police Inspector Vikram Naik confronted the protestors and asked to submit a memorandum to the Dy collector with their demands. However, the protestors refused, stating that they have already submitted a letter to Dy collector and other concerned authorities eight days ago and haven’t received a response yet.
“I don’t have authority to stop the work. It is not possible for North Goa Collector to come at the site since he is busy with Election work”, Pernem Mamlatdar Anant Malik said while responding to the protestors.
While the authorities were trying to convince the protestors to call off the protest and clear the road, on the other hand, the number of people participating in the protest increased. People from surrounding villages as well as NGOs, social activists, environmentalists, forums have lent support to the protest and affected farmers including Roshan Mathias from Goencho Awaz, Sanjay Barde President of Shree Dev Bodgeshwar Xerkari Sangh, Sudesh Tivrekar member of Mapusa people’s Union, Shailendra Velingkar and many others were present.
Hundreds of police personnel were so deployed at the protest site to maintain the law and order. Since the road was blocked for almost two hours, vehicles especially heavy trucks working at the Airport site were stuck.
Sanjay Barde, President of Shree Dev Bodgeshwar Xerkari Sangh, said, “The Government should take the farmers into confidence before acquiring the land and compensate for their loss. The Government buys land from the farmers for peanuts and sells it to builders for commercial purposes”.
The panchayat too has responded “The Panchayat is the supreme so when panchayat issues notice, it is on behalf of the whole village. While following the legal procedure, we have issued a show cause cum stop work notice to Ashoka Buildcon Ltd. If the government has taken up the work of link road abiding the law then the authorities should respond it and produce all the necessary documents. Let people study it and consult legal advisors and take further steps. We are not asking something which is beyond the capability of government”, Sanjay Tulaskar Sarpanch of Warkhand Nagzar village panchayat said. The Panchayat has asked for documents and if the authorities produce them and the panchayat finds it satisfactory then the panchayat can even revoke the stop-work order. Is the government trying to see the patience of the people? We want the work of link road to be stopped till we received all the required documents. We are following all the rules and abiding to the law. If the government is also doing the same then they must provide us with the documents”,
During the protest, protestors also gave out slogans such as ‘Chalchi Na Chalchi Dadagiri Chalchi na’, ‘Amchi Jamin Amkam Jai’, ‘Ham Sabh Ek Hai’, replace the land acquisition officer Chandrakant Shetkar and more. Protestors were also holding play cards with slogans and messages written on them.
“The authorities have forced us to protest since they are defying the Panchayat order. They are not accepting Supreme Court order nor the panchayat then where is the law and on top of it, they expect the people to follow the law”, Adv Prasad Shahapurkar said.
“I have received representation from the farmers. I will consult my higher authority and take further action”, Pernem PI Vikram Naik said.
Pernem Dy Collector Rajesh Ajgaonkar said,” My role is to look after the law and order. I cannot give any assurance because nothing is in my hands. I have told the people that I will convey their message to my higher authority”, Ajgaonkar said.
Water Lobo, Bharat Bagkar ex-President of Pernem Citizens forum, Rajmohan Shetye, Vyankatesh Naik, and many others were also present.
