CURCHOREM
Over 100 residents of Ambdai-Sanguem on Sunday evening decided to intensify their agitation if the government goes ahead with the proposed alcohol factory project in the village.
Locals who had gathered at Jalmi-Kalnath Temple in Ward 10 of Sanguem protested holding hoardings, showing their strong resentment to the project, reportedly backed by a politician.
It may be recalled that the politician had reportedly accused Sanguem Councillor Prakash Gaonkar of working against him.
At the meeting, locals clarified certain allegations made against local councillor Goankar by the politician concerned.
Addressing media persons, Nanu Bandolkar, a local, said villagers don't have a problem if the project comes up in the industrial zone at Xelpem. “We don't want factories to be set up in our village by destroying trees, rivers and ecology,” he said.
Another local, Umesh Gaonkar, said the villagers were not taken into confidence and not a single family from Ambdai was supporting the project.
Commenting on the allegations made by the politician against Councillor Gaonkar, Neeta Gaonkar, another local, said all allegations against Gaonkar were false.
“Prakash Gaonkar is not working or instigating locals against the politician concerned, but he is with the people who are opposing the factory project,” said Neeta.
Sanjay Gaonkar claimed that majority of Sanguem Municipal Council (SMC) members were supporting the proposed beer factory. “No councillor took pains to visit the site, where the proposed project is coming up,” he said and sought to know how councillors are blindly supporting the project.
Councillor Prakash Gaonkar said he is a loyal BJP worker and is not working against the politician. “I had referred the issue to State BJP president Vinay Tendulkar, but did not get any satisfactory reply from him,” he added.
Later, locals raised slogans against the beer factory project and warned that if the project was not shifted from Ambdai, they would intensify their agitation.
When contacted, Sanguem Municipal Council Chairperson Quiroz Cruz said some Ambdai locals along with their councillor met him and expressed their opposition to the project.
“I have asked them to take up the issue with Industries Minister Mahadev Naik. The councillors are convinced that the project will not create any pollution and instead provide jobs to locals. Majority of the councillors are supporting the project,” Cruz said.
