SANGUEM: The residents of Zuna ward in Bhatti village, located at the mountainous border of Goa and Karnataka, are facing significant difficulties due to the decision by the Forest Department to close the only road that passes through their area.
The Forest Department unilaterally closed this road, which is the sole access route for the villagers, by installing two gates approximately five kilometres apart earlier this month. To make matters worse, officials are stationed at only one of these gates, so villagers must walk five kilometres to seek permission to pass through. Regardless of whether they receive permission or not, they then have to walk back another five kilometres to reach their parked vehicles.
The Forest Department claims that this area is part of the Netravali wildlife sanctuary, and as such, the entry of four-wheelers is prohibited. However, this road serves not only Zuna ward residents but also the residents of Diggi and Zoida, two neighbouring villages in Karnataka, for whom the Sanguem market is the closest source of supplies.
Additionally, this Zuna-Sanguem road is the only access point for the residents of these three villages in the event of medical emergencies. This road is also part of the State Highway and experiences high usage, especially in March when thousands of people visit the Gowda Devi temple in Joida, Karnataka.
Given the essential role this road plays in their daily lives, the villagers have urged the authorities to permit local residents to access the road using their personal vehicles after verifying their residency in the Zuna ward.
