PONDA: Expressing their anger at the award notices issued to around 16 residents to accept compensation for land acquisition for the highway expansion at Bhoma, the villagers, especially women, declared that they are ready to sacrifice their lives to protect their village and culture and announced their intention to launch a major agitation.
As per the notices, the villagers have to fill up a form to avail compensation amount for their land. When the issue came up for discussion at the Bhoma-Adcolna gram sabha, the women asserted their refusal to the compensation, stating the government may offer them compensation in lakhs and crores of rupees, but they prioritise their deities and culture over monetary offers.
Voicing their opposition to the National Highway expansion, the gram sabha members pledged that at any cost, they will not allow the widening by destroying their temples and houses and remained firm on their demand for a bypass.
Sanjay Naik, who is spearheading the agitation, said, “Bhoma residents say the BJP has harassed them. We too are Hindus, and want to protect our village, temples and culture, but the government wants to destroy the village with the expansion plan.”
Sanjay pointed out that “this is the third year, people are spending sleepless nights”. “Now at time of Ganesh Chaturthi, we have been issued award notices wherein we have been asked to fill the forms to avail compensation for the land acquisition carried out by the government.”
“This is an attempt to divide the villagers. The BJP government has been harassing us for the past three years. We will launch a major agitation to save our village and culture,” he added.
He also said that “Bhomkars will not fall into the trap of the government”. “People are well aware about the Mopa incident. Some villagers were awarded compensation in the form of several lakh rupees, while some were offered a meagre sum,” Sanjay said.
Sarpanch Damodar Naik said, “The villagers have decided to write a letter to local MLA and Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude to inform him about the people’s demand for a bypass at Bhoma.”
When asked about the last gram sabha’s demand for an appointment with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to discuss the issue, he said, “We wrote a letter to the Chief Minister, who also holds the PWD portfolio, but till date he has not fixed any appointment with us.”
