PONDA: The villagers of Savoi-Verem stopped development work on Shitolem lake, demanding a special gram sabha to brief the people about benefits of the project. Villagers alleged they were kept in the dark about project.
The Water Resources Department (WRD) had commenced the work for development of the Shitolem lake situated in ward 6 of the Verem-Vagurme village panchayat. However as work began, villagers noticed that the natural water source of the lake dried up and they were left without water. With no proper water and damage to the only water source, villagers gathered upstream and forced the contractor to stop the work. Following this, WRD engineers rushed to the site.
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Local sarpanch Shobha Perni met villagers and tried to pacify the agitated crowd. But villagers did not allow the authorities to restart the work and demanded a special gram sabha on the issue.
Villagers claim that the government has not taken them into confidence about the development work of the Shitolem lake. They claimed that there are many families in the village which are dependent on the spring water from the Shitolem lake and wanted to know how these villagers would benefit from project, before allowing the work.
They claimed that the project will only benefit proposed steel plant factory and proposed residential complexes.
It may be recalled that development of Shitolem lake is part of the Murdi-Khandepar drinking water bandhara project which is also facing stiff opposition from Murdi-Khandepar and Sonarbaag-Usgao locals fearing flooding during the monsoon. The raw water of bandhara will be supplied at Savoi-Verem where treatment plant is proposed.
