MARGAO, APRIL 16
Agitated residents of Dongorim in Navelim village took to the streets on Friday in protest against the failure by the PWD to remove the blockade and construction material on private property near the Dongorim-Firgulem bridge site.
The residents contended that the High Court had issued clear-cut directions to the government not to interfere with the private property while carrying out excavation work for the bridge, but the directions were not implemented at the site.
In fact, the residents questioned blockage and closure of a road, contending that the road is in private property, built during the sub-divisional of plots.
They further maintained that the paddy fields where the construction material and machinery is dumped has not been acquired by the government and wondered how the PWD could encroach on the fields.
A small thatched hut erected in a private property was set ablaze, indicating that trouble is brewing in the area over the bridge construction. “The government has not acquired the fields. The road blocked by the PWD is a private road. How can the authorities just close the road and encroach on the fields”, the residents asked.
A resident Lima Edward said the residents have only told the PWD to remove the blockade based on the court order. A team of Margao police led by PSI Girendra Naik and PSI Mohan Gawde were told by the residents that they want the PWD and the contractor to lift away the material dumped on private land and road as per the High Court directions.
The residents have threatened to again move the court and initiate contempt proceedings against the government for disobeying the High Court directions.
