TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar came under strong attack in Rachol on Sunday over his announcement to lay foundation stone for the controversial Shiroda-Rachol bridge over River Zuari after the feast of St Francis Xavier.
Agitated Rachol villagers questioned the chief minister for trying to bulldoze with the bridge project when the local residents and that of neighbouring Raia have opposed the bridge tooth and nail.
The issue dominated at the Sunday gram sabha when members demanded to know whether the chief minister has no concern for the villagers of Raia and Rachol, who have been opposing the bridge over the years. Members asserted that the villagers would never allow the government to build the bridge irrespective of whether the chief minister lays the foundation stone for the bridge or not.
Sarpanch Joseph Vaz later said that the Rachol and Raia villagers would not be cowed down by the chief minister’s statement to lay the foundation stone for the bridge. “Till date, the chief minister has not bothered to talk to the people on the host of issues raised by the villagers of Rachol against the bridge. But, he only issues statements intending to bulldoze the project against the will of the villagers,” he said.
Vaz said the tenants association as well as the bio-diversity cell of the village have opposed the bridge on grounds that it would disturb agriculture as well as the bio-diversity of the village.
