the goan I network
OLD GOA
The fight of the locals of Ganvanth in Chimbel to get unhindered access to a pond located inside a leased property has continued, with the locals yet again approaching the court of the deputy collector to issue orders in the matter.
And even as the orders for opening the gates were issued late Thursday evening, the locals were in for a surprise as the pond was completely filled with mud.
The Ganvanth locals have been using the pond for performing various religious rituals during dhalo, temple installation day celebrations (vardhapan din), Shigmo, Chimbelkarin palkhi, Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Navratri, etc.
And on February 28 and 29, the locals are celebrating the installation day (vardhapan din) of Shree Sateri Maya Devasthan, for which the water from the pond is used for rituals.
“The deputy collector issued orders to open the gates of the property so that access could be provided to the pond. But when we went to the pond for collecting water, it was found completely filled with mud,” a local Anil Shirodkar informed.
“As the orders were issued late Thursday evening, there was no time to excavate the mud to restore the pond. So, we took water in utensils and after performing rituals near the pond, the water was used to perform rituals at the temple,” Shirodkar added.
A strong police force led by Old Goa PI Krishna Shirodkar was present at the site during the opening of the gate to prevent any untoward incident.
It may be recalled that the issue of filling of the pond had first surfaced in August 2019, with the Ganesh Charturthi approaching, when the locals knocked the doors of the North Goa Collector, after which orders were issued by the SDM to restore the pond to its original status.
Later, a portion of the pond was restored to allow the locals to immerse Ganesh idols.
Meanwhile, the issue came up for hearing in the High Court wherein directions were issued that the locals should conduct the rituals peacefully during the celebrations.
Locals have also been told not to damage crops and property, not to litter and not to light firecrackers inside the property. The police have also been ordered to maintain vigil on the two days of the festival, i.e. Friday and Saturday, to ensure the directives are followed. The next hearing is posted for March 9.
