PONDA: South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes, along with Goa Pradesh Congress Party President Amit Patkar, visited Bhoma village to interact with villagers regarding the National Highway (NH) expansion issue. The villagers have been agitating for years now, pushing for a bypass road as an alternative.
Captain Viriato assured them that he would present their grievances to the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, before August 25. He also assured them that if necessary, he would lead a delegation of Bhoma villagers to meet the Union Minister in person.
With Captain Viriato’s promise, hopes have been ignited in the hearts of the Bhomkars about saving their village from the unwanted change. A few months earlier, several villagers received notices, and 150 villagers were even arrested while protesting against the NH survey.
A large number of villagers were present on the occasion. Village leader Sanjay Naik, while briefing Viriato, emphasised that Bhoma is home to centuries-old culture and temples, prompting the MP to visit the temples on Sunday.
Naik also mentioned that in 2010, the NH expansion through the middle of the village was scrapped following strong opposition from the villagers. At that time, the villagers had suggested bypass roads, either from the hillside (which was shown in the Regional Plan) or from the agricultural fields, to spare the village. The proposed bypass was designed not only to save Bhoma village but also to protect Kundaim and Khorlim villages. “However, the government has now suddenly changed the plan and decided to widen the existing highway through the village,” lamented Naik.
Captain Viriato promised the villagers that he would meet with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi to seek his intervention in protecting Bhoma village from unwanted development.
Captain Viriato Fernandes also stated that he strongly opposes the Sunburn party in South Goa, as it could negatively affect the interests of the people and youth in the region.
