PERNEM: Likeminded people including youth and senior citizens from Morjim village on Monday offered prayers and sought blessings of Devi Morjai before commencing their battle to protect their village from concrete destruction.
The villagers said that they were forced to move out taking into consideration the concrete development in the village.
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Mayur Shetgaonkar, a local youth, who had individually commenced his legal battle by raising voice against illegalities taking place in the village is now supported by the villagers.
The villagers claimed that the builders’ lobby is out to finish the village while the local panchayat has failed to act.
They said that the village is already facing water shortage and constant power fluctuations.
They further claimed that the traditional pathways have been blocked and the wells have been polluted with the increase in the number of constructions.
The villagers said that they have now moved out of their houses to protect the village for posterity.
“The Panchayat had passed resolution at the gram sabha that no new construction will be allowed in the village considering the water shortage problem. However, despite this, the panchayat continued to grant permission. Several complaints have been filed against illegal projects, but the panchayat has failed to act,” Shetgaonkar alleged.
“Traditional pathways of fishermen have been blocked by private builders. The space meant for parking of fishing boats has been reduced. A hut was demolished as it was blocking the hotel view. Looks like they are out to finish off the fishing community in the village,” Shetgaonkar charged.
“I am happy to see that so many people have moved out of their houses to protect the village. Massive constructions have come up and the panchayat has failed to act. The widened roads have been reduced and there is no action in this regard. I appeal to the people to move out and unitedly support this fight to protect the village, Ganesh Shetgaonkar,” a senior citizen appealed.
“The builder lobby has taken up constructions in each and every corner. The present situation in Pernem’s coastal belt is such that if we continue to encourage this then we can predict the destruction of villages. So many projects are coming up but nobody speaks and there are reasons for that, but we need to unitedly fight this battle to protect our village for posterity,” Adv Prasad Shahapurkar said.
