BENAULIM: A commotion broke out during the demarcation of the proposed 14-bedded health centre in the government Provedoria land situated near the Taj Exotica resort, Benaulim between the government authorities and those protesting against this project on Wednesday morning resulting in the local Benaulim NCP MLA Churchill Alemao summoning the Colva police to disperse the crowd.
Sources stated that the officials of the Provedoria, Directorate of Settlement and Land Survey accompanied by policemen and panchayat members arrived at the site to demarcate the land for the construction of the proposed 14-bedded health centre in Benaulim as per the order issued by the South Goa Collector when they were accosted by an angry group of around 15-20 Benaulim villagers under the banner of ‘Zagrut Banaulekar’ (Alert Benaulim residents) protesting against demarcation.
However, no arrests were made with the Colva police dispersing the protestors who had gathered in utter violation of the COVID restrictions imposed in the State. Later, the demarcation was conducted as it had been scheduled two months back.
One of the protestors, Santan Pereira told Herald that “the Benaulim villagers were protesting against the construction of the health centre as it was meant for poor people and has been shown as cultivable zone in Form XIV. The authorities had come for demarcation without the requisite ownership documents. We also requested the director to send the letters to all the tenants of the adjacent land adjoining the property as they were not intimated about the same.”
Interestingly, sources close to the local MLA Churchill allege that since the protestors had encroached this property, they were raising their voices against the health centre that is highly essential during this ongoing COVID pandemic.
