MAPUSA
With the local panchayat and the authorities failing to give them justice against the alleged illegal mega project in Camurlim, the villagers on Sunday invoked the Gods and decided to step up the protest against the project till it is stopped.
The locals said that the project will not only destroy the village but it was also a threat to the environment and vowed to use all democratic means to ensure that the project was stopped and if need be would not mind to take the law into their hands to achieve their goal.
“We have complained to each and every department. We also raised the issue in the Assembly but no action is forthcoming. Our plan is now to take a morcha against the TCP department. Our plan is to take the local panchayat to task. If nothing happens we will have to take the law into our hands and people are ready to do that to stop this project,” said Manoj Parab, President of Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), who has been spearheading the protest against the project.
On Sunday, large number of villagers converged at a sacred spot in the village and invoked the local rakandar (Zitva) imploring him to take care of all the politicians and officials who have monetarily benefited from the project.
“He is a jagrut (powerful) God who is worshiped by everyone in the village. We have made a sagnem (prayed) to him to give us strength to take the protest headon. We have also implored him to punish everyone -- the panchayat secretary, sarpanch, panch members, MLA, minister or anyone who has gained monetarily from this project,” Parab said.
A fortnight back, the local sarpanch had assured to revoke the permission issued to the project and also to stop the ongoing work at the site only to go back on his word.
The sarpanch was forced to give the assurance as angry villagers had raised objections against the project at the gram sabha meeting.
A local Nubert Fernandes said that a number of complaints have been made to various authorities and the local panchayat.
“They have been only keeping us guessing by assuring to take action,” said Fernandes, who has been on the forefront in the protest against the project.
Another local, Babani Gad warned that if this project was allowed to come up on the hill then all other hills in the village would come under a threat.
“It will disturb the entire ecosystem in the village. We are aware there is load shedding taking place in the entire State. They will then start pumping the ground water which will only ensure our wells go dry,” Gad said.
Several other villagers also spoke against the project and vowed to fight till the project is grounded.
