MARGAO: Over 100 people gathered at the Vani Agro Plant site in Amdai, Sanguem, on Monday to stop the excavation for the plant, which began in the morning. They called the police after the plant officers showed reluctance to stop work. The police visited the site and asked the factory personnel to stop excavation.
When the protesters reached the site, they warned the supervisor at the site to stop the excavation or face the consequences. When the work did not stop, they threatened to torch the excavator. They also claimed that the excavation was illegal as it was happening close to a water body.
The police have said that prima facie, it appeared that no permissions had been taken for the excavation, but they are investigating the matter.
Meanwhile, the factory personnel have ridiculed the protests, claiming that they have the rights to the land and permissions to excavate it.
The protesters have also decided to file a complaint against 20 labourers and workers of the plant who have allegedly been staying illegally in the area without police verification.
“The industry shouldn’t try to force the plant upon us. The village will stay intact through the agitation and make sure that local MLA Subhash Phal Desai doesn’t create a rift amongst the people,” said Lata Gaonkar, a local.
