Ponda residents to hold protest rally

MARCEL, MARCH 20
Residents of Ponda under the banner of ‘Diversion NH-4A Action Committee’ will hold a protest rally to the State Assembly Complex on March 23.
Addressing a press conference in Ponda, residents and entrepreneurs claimed that all the efforts in democratic manner had failed to yield results and they were forced to agitate to press for their demand.
“As soon as we learnt of the land acquisition in the newspaper, we approached ministers and the MLAs from Ponda taluka, health minister Vishwajeet Rane, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao and even the MP’s. We only received moral support and nothing else. They haven’t taken the issue seriously,” said Kamlakant Parab, one of the members of the action committee.
Residents and entrepreneurs from Ponda and Curti-Khandepar panchayat area are demanding to divert the proposed four-lane route from Karai-Khandepar behind the military camp from Curti to Farmagudi.
“Our hosues and business establishment can be saved provided the authorities divert the NH-4A, which is also mentioned in the Ponda ODP 2011. The diversion will not have any effect on human settlement as it will join directly at Farmagudi, thus saving our Curti and Ponda city,” said Parab.
Added Sunil Dessai: “The government is least bothered to look into our problems. The state administration has failed to resolve this issue. Why can’t our elected representatives fight to save our houses and business establishment, instead of fighting for power? It is shameful to have such a government in the State.”
“We are only left with one choice and that is to agitate. We will hold a protest rally to the State Assembly on March 23,” Dessai added.