In a creative form of protest, members of the Goa Pradesh Youth Congress (GPYC) planted saplings in potholes at Sancoale on Thursday to spotlight the poor condition of local roads. The symbolic act was aimed at drawing attention to alleged negligence by authorities and the shoddy work done by contractors.
The protestors alleged that contractors responsible for road repairs are misappropriating public funds. Instead of carrying out durable repairs, they claimed, only superficial patchwork is done—work that often fails after minimal rain or regular vehicle movement. “This is no longer just an inconvenience; it’s a matter of public safety and accountability,” said one of the youth leaders. “It’s frustrating to watch taxpayers’ money being wasted while basic infrastructure continues to crumble.”
Planting saplings in potholes served as a powerful visual metaphor for their message. It also mocked the repeated assurances of road development by the authorities. “If potholes are here to stay, we might as well turn them into gardens,” said a protester, underscoring the irony of the situation.
The GPYC has called for immediate action from the government to fix the damaged roads. They also demanded a full audit of road repair contracts and strict action against any corruption or malpractice. “There must be transparency in how public money is being spent. Poor quality work and corruption must not go unpunished,” said a GPYC spokesperson.
The unusual protest drew support from local residents, many of whom shared similar frustrations. They hoped the demonstration would serve as a wake-up call for the authorities and prompt swift action before the monsoon season worsens the road conditions.