After the strong opposition from Mirabag, now the villagers of Mugoli are raising their voices against the Bandara project on the Zuari River. Mugoli village, which is located adjacent to the Zuari River, faces annual flooding issues. The villagers, along with those from nearby areas like Marangan, Taripanto, and other parts of the Triveni Sangam area in Sanguem, are deeply concerned that the Bandara project will exacerbate these problems and put their lives and properties at risk.
The primary fear among the villagers is that the construction of the Bandara will block the flow of the river, causing water levels to rise and potentially leading to the collapse of their homes. During the monsoon season, the Zuari River floods, often blocking the village road, which is 200 meters from the river. If the Bandara is constructed, the villagers fear that the entire area could be submerged, including small rivers connected to the Zuari River. One such river, which connects to the Marangan Mahadev Temple, already comes nearby the temple compound during the rainy season, and the situation could worsen with the Bandara in place.
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The villagers, mostly belonging to the ST community, rely heavily on their small agricultural lands on both sides of the river for their livelihood. They worry that these lands will be endangered if the project goes ahead. The loss of their agricultural land would have a devastating impact on their ability to sustain themselves. also their cultural practices that are closely tied to the river and the land around it.
This isn’t the first time the villagers have faced such a threat. In 2006 ya similar Bandara project was proposed on the same river at Mugoli, and the villagers opposed it.
The villagers suggest that instead of building the Bandara, which would block the river and raise water levels, the government should consider using existing deep-water spots in the river. They propose that water could be pumped from these areas and supplied elsewhere, which they believe would be a simpler and less harmful solution.
The Mugoli villagers, like those in Mirabag, are united in their opposition to the Bandara project and are calling on the government to reconsider its plans in light of the potential dangers it poses to their homes, lands, and lives.
