OLD GOA
Even as a number of activists, NGOs and politicians extended their support to the Bhoma locals in their opposition to the road widening project, the Congress and the RGP have stated that it is now time to up the ante to take the agitation forward.
Speaking at a meeting held near Shree Nagzarkar Devasthan, Bhoma, on Sunday, RGP MLA Viresh Borkar said that the BJP government will not listen until the people up the ante.
“In many instances, we have seen that the BJP government fails to listen to the people and hence it is important to take the agitation to the capital city Panaji and also to the Assembly,” Borkar urged the Bhomkars.
“The government cares little about such protest meetings and it is more than likely that they will go ahead with the project by imposing section 144 as they have done in Khandepar,” MLA Borkar said and urged Bhomkars to take the agitation to the next level.
He further assured that his party RGP will always be with the Bhoma people in opposing the project and demanding a bypass road to save the temples and houses from destruction.
GPCC president Amit Patkar too agreed with MLA Borkar and said that nothing will come out by giving speeches.
“We will come here, give speeches but in the end nothing will happen. We need to follow into the footsteps of Pednekars and give deadline to the government that if their demand for a bypass is not met then the agitation will reach Panaji,” Patkar stated.
Patkar further said that in 2010, the Congress listened to the demand of Bhoma locals and planned a bypass road which is reflecting in the Regional Plan even today.
“After that, the BJP took over but it’s been more than 11 years now that they have yet to make the bypass a reality even though their leader late Manohar Parrikar was the one who had initially supported the idea of a bypass,” Patkar informed while slamming the PWD minister Nilesh Cabral for his adamant attitude.
”Cabral likes to make presentation in the comfort of his air-conditioned office in Panaji but does not have the courtesy to come to Bhoma and understand the ground reality by listening to the grievances of the locals,” Patkar chided.
TMC’s Trajano D’Mello said that the government is of the rich as it could spend over Rs 600 crore for a flyover in Porvorim just to save the businesses of the rich. “But they cannot do the same in Bhoma to save the houses of the poor by approving a bypass road,” D’Mello lamented.
Earlier, a large number of activists spoke in support of Bhoma locals’ demand for a bypass and included Rama Kankonkar, Rajan Ghate, Anthony D’Silva, Zarina D’Cunha, Adv Jitendra Gaonkar, Rajendra Korgaonkar among others.
Among the NGOs to extend support included Shree Parshuram Sena represented by Shailendra Velingkar and GAKUVED represented by Satyawan Gaonkar.
