Rivona residents converge at Porvorim

Rivona residents converge at Porvorim
Demand by-pass road for mining traffic
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
PORVORIM, JAN 24
About 200 villagers from Rivona on Monday afternoon gathered at the entrance of the main gate of Assembly Complex at Porvorim demanding construction of by-pass road from Colomb-Rivona to Sanvordem for the diversion of mining traffic.
Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar assured the villagers that he would arrange their meeting with Chief Minister Digambar Kamat. However, police stopped them at the gate and allowed only five people to meet Parrikar.
Later, the delegation comprising Parish Priest Octavano D’Cunha, Lawrence Fernandes, Olinda Lopes, Seby Lopes and Regina D’Souza met Parrikar and apprised him about the situation in Rivona.
At about 4.30 pm, Parrikar along with Sanguem MLA Vasudev Gaonker met the villagers, who were waiting at the entrance of the main gate, and informed them that since chief minister was not in his office, he could not arrange the meeting.
Parrikar assured the villagers that he would raise the issue in the forthcoming assembly session, which is scheduled to begin from January 31, and he will visit Rivona on February 7 or 8, which is after the assembly session.
However, the villagers stated that they are not prepared to wait till February 7 and that they want immediate action in the matter, failing which they would resort to ‘rasta roko’ agitation.
“I don’t have mines in Rivona or elsewhere in the State. I am against mining activities and I am with you. I will to try to come to Rivona on January 29,” Parrikar told the villagers.
Speaking to Herald, the villagers stated that they have so far shown tremendous restrain against the muscle power by the miners.
“The government has to adhere to the genuine needs of the public and thread this path carefully, because sooner or later the public is bound to lose patience and resort to violence, and before that happens an amicable solution should be sought,” said the villagers.
“Mining activities have destroyed our paddy fields, water resources and peace of mind. A lot of people have lost their precious lives, both young and old, due to the mining traffic. The condition of the roads has become pathetic due to constant movements of mining trucks,” added the villagers.
“Our demands are simple. The government should first put restrictions on mining trucks plying through the village and simultaneously construct a by-pass road from Colomb-Rivona to Sanvordem for the diversion of mining traffic,” said the villagers.