PONDA: NGO Rainbow Warriors on Sunday alleged that Murdi bandhara, which is proposed to be built on Dudhsagar river, is meant for an upcoming steel project coming up at Bhoot Khamb, Keri plateau. “If the steel project does come up at Bhoot Khamb plateau then Khandepar, Usgao, Keri, Volvoi and Verem-Vaghurme panchayats will be affected the most.
The government is forcefully imposing these projects on people only to benefit the corporates,” Rainbow Warriors’ Abhijit Prabhudesai said.
Prabhudesai in a public meeting on Sunday night at Murdi-Khandepar explained the details of the bandhara project which was attended by panch members Abhijit Gaude, Nilesh Gaude, Premanand Gaude and locals.
“An industrialist has bought around 5 lakh sq meters of land at Bhoot Khamb plateau out of which 1 lakh sq meters will be used for a steel company. Since this project will require a tremendous amount of water, the government has commenced the process of erecting bandhara at Murdi. Priol constituency has plenty of water sources and the government has taken advantage of resolutions passed by three panchayats who were intending to purify the water for the public,” said Prabhudesai.
“The government started the work on the bandhara without taking the locals into confidence. People residing on either side of the river have opposed the project. Even the imposition of Section 144 in the area which the government completed the procedure within a day, is illegal as per a Supreme Court order. We will challenge the move at the National Green Tribunal and suspend work on the bandhara,” he added.
