PANJIM: Criticising Goa State infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), villagers of Gaundalim and Cumbharjua have threatened to block traffic on the new bridge if their demands are not met.
After a long wait, GSIDC opened the twin bridges in April, but the issues of the villagers have not yet been resolved. “It is almost three months of opening but there are no street lights on the bridge which makes it extremely unsafe for women and other commuters at night,” Cumbharjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar said.
Adding that work on the approach road from Cumbharjua is yet to start, he said, “The people of Cumbharjua are still suffering and cannot take advantage of the bridge as there is no approach road.”
Madkaikar further said GSIDC is yet to pay compensation to farmers who have given their land for the two bridges. “The government had promised to give proper compensation for the bridge but till date nothing has been given. If the government does not look into their grievances, they would be forced to take this extreme step,” Madkaikar said.
Cumnbharjua sarpanch Surendra Naik said the government has been promising to fulfill their demands for years but nothing has been done. “There are around 20 to 22 farmers whose land was taken over for the approach road. However, they were being paid an amount as low as Rs 1,000, and Rs 1,500 in some cases,” Naik said. He said farmers had refused to accept that amount and had demanded an increase.
Another villager Prasad Harmalkar said villagers were promised direct access to the bridge, which has not been done, and they will have to travel far to get to the bridge.
He added that around 65 farmers under the Vanso Khajan Association had lost land and that fields have been divided as the bridge passes between their fields. “As a result, it is difficult for the farmers, who have no access to the other side of the bridge/approach road. GSIDC and the government had promised to construct culverts, but they have done nothing till date,” Harmalkar said.
