MAPUSA: After Siolim and Chopdem, now Camurlim villagers have raised strong objection for the floating jetty which is at present parked at Camurlim Ferry Point.
Villagers of Siolim, Chopdem, Agarwada, Oxel and other nearby villagers as well as the Siolim Marna village panchayat had decided to come on the streets and protest against the floating jetty which the Captain of Ports (CoP) was planning to have at Chopdem.
However, before people could protest, on Friday morning, the floating jetty was shifted from Siolim to Camurlim without giving prior intimation about the same to the local authorities.
Seeing the jetty parked at Camurlim Ferry Point, the villagers as well the Camurlim Panchayat members raised strong objection.
The panchayat authorities claimed that the floating jetty was shifted to Camurlim without any prior notice to them.
“Observing the objections raised by people in Siolim and Chopdem, we had a doubt that the concerned department may shift it to Camurlim. So in anticipation of this, during our meeting on June 10 we had unanimously resolved that we will not allow jetty at Camurlim. A letter was also made to Captain of Ports. Now our doubts have turned into reality,” said Sarpanch Vishant Gaonkar.
“There is strong objection from the Panchayat as well as the locals. Now the contractor is claiming that they have shifted the jetty for the time being and would take it to Panjim but they should have informed us about it before in writing, even if it is a temporary solution,” Gaonkar added.
It may be recalled that on May 27 the CoP had bought a floating jetty and had parked it near the Siolim Bridge. The concerned contractor was supposed to install the floating jetty at Siolim and later take it to Chopdem but before the contractor could execute the plan, the villagers from Siolim and Chopdem and surrounding areas raised objection.
Letters were also made to CoP Minister as well as MPT regarding the same.
