PONDA: In a determined display of unity, the residents of Bhoma staged a protest on Wednesday, gheraoed Bhoma-Adcolna sarpanch Damodar Naik due to concerns arising from land acquisition notices issued by the National Highway authorities.
The aggrieved villagers voiced their demand for unequivocal support from the Bhoma Panchayat in an effort to halt the ongoing land acquisition process related to the existing road. They ardently batted for the construction of a bypass road in Bhoma.
Sanjay Naik, a prominent local leader, explained that the villagers’ frustration stemmed from a recent interaction with land acquisition officials at Altinho-Panjim. During this meeting, the officials advised the villagers to submit their land documents and subsequently receive compensation. The villagers, however, found themselves at a loss due to the lack of information about the scope of road widening and the extent of land that would be affected.
The villagers pointed out that the government had only presented one proposal for the expansion of the existing road, a plan that had previously been discarded by former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. The former Chief Minister had, in fact, proposed the construction of a bypass for Bhoma. Armed with these concerns, the villagers confronted the sarpanch and implored him to advocate for the formulation of a bypass road proposal for Bhoma. They also urged him to oppose the ongoing land acquisition process for the widening of the existing road. The Sarpanch assured the villagers that he would actively address their grievances.
Local leader Sanjay Naik disclosed that nearly 64 households had received notices regarding the widening of the National Highway through Bhoma. In response, the villagers organised a series of meetings, voicing their objections to the Public Works Department (PWD) and the NH division at Altinho-Panjim. They also engaged with the land acquisition officer at the PWD office in Altinho-Panjim on Tuesday. The villagers sought transparency and requested access to the proposed alignment plan for the National Highway expansion. However, their requests went unanswered, which prompted them to gherao the Sarpanch demanding immediate action. on the matter.
The villagers expressed their dismay, highlighting the initial assurance by officials that only four families would be affected by the project. This reassurance starkly contrasts with the 64 notices that have been disseminated. The residents fervently beseeched Sarpanch to stand in solidarity with their cause and to undertake all necessary
