Agassaim villagers demanded justice from the government who they say started work even without proper acquisition process.
Protesting outside the Public Works Department (PWD) headquarters Agassaim, locals said the contractor has started illegal construction of road widening without informing villagers and most importantly without land acquisition.
“How can they come and directly start work? It is illegal and hence we had to protest to demand that work be stopped immediately,” a resident said.
Abhijit Prabhudesai of the Rainbow Warriors said, “People have been agitating due to filling of paddy fields and water bodies from Mashem to Goa Velha. The people are kept in the dark.” He said people have been forced to ask the contractor to stop the work as he has failed to produce any kind of permission and plans.
“Suddenly a notice had been issued by PWD under the National Highways Act for acquiring land but the process is illegal and no local was intimated before. In Agassaim around 30 houses and prime agriculture land has been illegally taken for construction of approach road for the new Zuari Bridge when no compensation has been given,” he said.
“However, after the notice around 54 people objected and that is the reason we assembled here for the hearing process but as the notice was issued within a short period it had to be called off until further notice,” he added.
