Team Herald
PONDA: A day after Sangod villagers lent their support to the 400 kv project claiming that it will create jobs for them, especially the youth, the residents of other parts of Mollem on Thursday vowed to continue their fight against the project stating that it would prove hazardous to their health, environment and agriculture.
Some locals from Mollem complained that their grievances with regards to the project were not heard.
“We wanted to submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant but were detained outside his official residence on Wednesday. We travelled all the way from Mollem to submit the memorandum to the Chief Minister. We wanted him to receive the memorandum but he refused to come out and take it from us,” said Krishna Zore, a resident of Mollem, who was detained on Wednesday.
He informed that sarpanch Tanvi Kerkar had assured to convene gram sabha meeting on October 4, wherein the objections from the locals to the three Mollem projects would be heard. However, the meeting was cancelled.
“The October 4 gram sabha meeting was promised after Mollem locals approached the panchayat and sent three official letters to Kerkar raising concerns over 400 kv project at Sangod. In this democratic country, freedom of expression ends here and trying to save Nature results in detention,” said Swasha Khandeparker, another resident.
Cecille Rodrigues, who was also detained outside the Chief Minister’s official residence on Wednesday said, “We were not even told why we are being detained or under what Section of the IPC.”
Rodrigues and the others were detained till 9 pm.
“Mollem residents were detained along with us. These are major projects which will destroy not only Mollem but entire Goa will be affected,” claimed Gina Pereira, another local, who was detained on Wednesday.
“Mollem forests are the lungs of Goa. Turning them into business is not fair. We are safe and healthy because we have deep forests. Now, they want to sell them,” Abhishek Naik charged.
