Assagao: Apprehensive of a mega project cropping up in close proximity of the natural medicinal spring in the Oxel, locals and environmentalists from the area, Siolim and other parts of the State held a candle light protest where many speakers vociferously opposed concretised structures in the area and demanded that the spring be demarcated and declared as a heritage site.
Around 300 persons gathered at the Oxel spring on Thursday evening for the candle light protest where many speakers from and outside the village expressed their views and said that they would oppose any project that would be detrimental to the over 100-yr-old spring.
The cynosure of all eyes was the village sarpanch Adv Reshal Arporkar who stood throughout the protest meet and expressed her support to the villagers and said she and the entire panchayat is committed to protect and safeguard the spring and fields and hills of the village.
Arporkar also appealed to the people to support the panchayat and help in submitting a written representation to stop all such mega projects.
“I will remain committed to safeguard the village and such mega projects should be opposed. On many occasions, revocation orders of panchayat are challenged at higher level and developers manage to get approvals. However people's power is important,” said the sarpanch
Prominent speakers like Avertino Miranda, Prof Prajal Sakhardande, Tanoj Adwalpalkar, Shankar Polji, Suraj Chodancar, Kapil Korgaonkar, Fatima Fernandes, Walter Lobo, local parish Priest Fr Minino Vaz and many locals also spoke on the occasion.
The protesters then decided to write to the panchayat to petition against the mega project coming within close proximity of the spring.
Bounded by Siolim on the West and Camurlim on the east, Oxel is a picturesque village in Bardez, dotted with hills on the south and River Chapora in the north and is rich in biodiversity and blessed with six springs known for their medicinal value.