VASCO
A large number of residents on Wednesday morning came out of their houses at Bogda-Vasco to protest against plans by the electricity department to build a compound around their residential staff quarters, fearing it would block the decades-old traditional pathways in the area.
Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar later convened a joint site inspection of the area along with electricity department officials and residents to take stock of the situation and assured residents that he will take up the issue with the government and ensure that traditional pathways and access roads were not blocked.
Speaking to reporters after the inspection, Amonkar said the traditional pathways for houses at Bogda were operational for over four decades.
“These houses have access to these traditional pathways through the road from residential colonies of the electricity department. Many years ago when the electricity department had put a compound wall to their colonies, they had left space open to these traditional pathways.”
“However, we now hear that the electricity department wants to close the space open for these pathways by construction of a compound in a few days and this will put several houses on the hills in a landlocked area,” said Amonkar.
Amonkar said the people panicked and sought his intervention in the matter. He subsequently called for a joint inspection of the area with residents and electricity department officials.
“This is their only access in times of emergency and the only other way is to take patients walking on steps from the hill to the road below the hill near El Monte Theatre, which is not feasible,” said Amonkar.
Amonkar said so many residents living on the hill at Bogda must not be put into hardships of any sort or face any inconveniences.
“During the inspection, electricity department officials said they had got some instructions in this regard from higher authorities. While I am unsure of this sudden decision by the electricity department after so many years, I will take the issue up at the government level and discuss with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, electricity department higher-ups and other officials to find a solution,” said Amonkar.
