OLD GOA
Bhoma locals have opposed the highway expansion project in their village which would lead to demolition of around 40 houses in one ward itself.
The locals have further appealed to the government to build a bypass road to save their houses, failing which they have threatened an agitation on the streets.
The decision was made when a large number of villagers gathered at Bhoma to condemn the move to demolish houses to pave way for the expansion of the highway.
Speaking on the occasion, a local Sanjay Naik said he had all along been stating that many houses would be affected due to the highway expansion.
“But, every time PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral was stating that only a few houses would get affected. However, now around 40 houses have been officially shown in the gazette notification which has exposed the lies of Cabral,” Naik chided and challenged the minister to come clear on the issue.
Naik further hit out at the BJP government for carrying ahead the plan of the Congress, which was exposed when late Manohar Parrikar was the Opposition leader.
“Now, the BJP government is toeing the Congress lines because they want to benefit a businessman who has brought a huge property along the bypass road that has been proposed by us,” Naik alleged.
He further warned the BJP government that the Bhoma locals are now more united than ever and will be forced to agitate on the streets if the government doesn’t listen to the demands of an alternate bypass road to save the houses of the locals.
“On one side, the BJP government is reluctant to demolish the slums but on the other side, the same government is not hesitant to demolish the houses of poor Goans,” Naik chided.
He then gave the government two days to clarify in the matter, failing which the locals would decide to take the agitation to a higher level with the help of NGOs, organisations, activists from all over the State.
Speaking on the occasion, a senior citizen said Bhoma village is full of culture and heritage.
“We have been living here peacefully even before the Portuguese arrived and now this government wants to displace us in the name of development which we are not going to allow at any cost,” the senior citizen warned and stated that he is ready to sacrifice his life, if needed to save the houses from destruction.
The locals have further appealed to the government to build a bypass road to save their houses, failing which they have threatened an agitation on the streets.
The decision was made when a large number of villagers gathered at Bhoma to condemn the move to demolish houses to pave way for the expansion of the highway.
Speaking on the occasion, a local Sanjay Naik said he had all along been stating that many houses would be affected due to the highway expansion.
“But, every time PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral was stating that only a few houses would get affected. However, now around 40 houses have been officially shown in the gazette notification which has exposed the lies of Cabral,” Naik chided and challenged the minister to come clear on the issue.
Naik further hit out at the BJP government for carrying ahead the plan of the Congress, which was exposed when late Manohar Parrikar was the Opposition leader.
“Now, the BJP government is toeing the Congress lines because they want to benefit a businessman who has brought a huge property along the bypass road that has been proposed by us,” Naik alleged.
He further warned the BJP government that the Bhoma locals are now more united than ever and will be forced to agitate on the streets if the government doesn’t listen to the demands of an alternate bypass road to save the houses of the locals.
“On one side, the BJP government is reluctant to demolish the slums but on the other side, the same government is not hesitant to demolish the houses of poor Goans,” Naik chided.
He then gave the government two days to clarify in the matter, failing which the locals would decide to take the agitation to a higher level with the help of NGOs, organisations, activists from all over the State.
Speaking on the occasion, a senior citizen said Bhoma village is full of culture and heritage.
“We have been living here peacefully even before the Portuguese arrived and now this government wants to displace us in the name of development which we are not going to allow at any cost,” the senior citizen warned and stated that he is ready to sacrifice his life, if needed to save the houses from destruction.
