Team Herald
PONDA: The proposed NH expansion through the village dominated the Bhoma gram sabha held on Sunday, with the residents demanding a fresh Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study, claiming that the historic 400-year-old lake associated with local deities and mentioned in Portuguese records was not included in the initial EIA report.
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The locals claimed that this is a traditional old lake and its water is used for irrigation of Kulagars and agriculture crops for centuries at Bhoma, but the authorities failed to take note of it in EIA reports for NH expansion plan.
Questioning the accuracy of the submitted EIA report, they emphasized the need for a thorough assessment before proceeding with the road widening project.
The Panchayat resolved to convey the gram sabha’s resolution to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, NH authorities, and the Goa Government, requesting a fresh EIA report.
Villagers also demanded a meeting with the local MLA and Minister at the Bhoma Panchayat office to discuss their concerns and seek clarification on the discrepancies in the EIA report.
Sarpanch Damodar Naik said that the villagers have demanded a fresh Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). As per their claim earlier, the EIA report submitted for land acquisition is wrong as traditional lakes, tollem, Kulagars are not shown in EIA. Villagers questioned that if EIA is not properly done then how NH widening would take place. Therefore panchayat will convey gram sabha resolution to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, also to NH authorities and Goa Government for conducting fresh EIA report.
He said the PWD officials in meeting with the local MLA and minister had told that a four lane flyover would come up on stilts at Bhoma.
The local leader Sanjay Naik said, “Our demand is for a bypass and a fresh EIA report by NH authorities. Bhomkars have stressed on bypass and demanded a fresh environment impact assessment as historic lake is not shown in the EIA report. This is also reported in Portuguese documents and associated with local deities.”
