the goan I network
OLD GOA
Locals of Divar suffered as ferry services were hit due to the participation of ferry workers in the bandh on Wednesday.
Hundreds of students, villagers and others were stranded on the island early in the morning due to the non operational of the ferries on both routes at Ribandar and Old Goa.
On learning of the matter, sarpanchas from both panchayats at Sao Mathias and Goltim-Navelim, accompanied by panchas and concerned citizens, rushed to the Old Goa ferry point in an attempt to restart the ferry services.
Speaking to The Goan, Sao Mathias Sarpanch Sadanand Fadte informed that one patient got sick and was shifted to the other side in a ferry, with some people also taking the opportunity to cross to Old Goa.
“Then, two children got sick and they too were taken to the other side in a 108 ambulance. But the ferry staff refused to resume normal services thereafter,” said Fadte, while adding that he along with Goltim-Navelim Deputy Sarpanch Mario Pinto then took a canoe to cross to the Old Goa side.
“We had a ferry coxswain among us. So we called up the police and under their protection, we started operating the ferry to help the people to cross to the mainland,” he added.
“Due to this action, the ferry staff called up their leader Christopher Fonseca resulting in a long discussion thereafter.”
“It was only after we highlighted the problems faced by the villagers due to the non-operational of ferry services, that the ferry staff were allowed to resume normal services, thereby bringing relief to the villagers,” Fadte informed.
Goltim-Navelim Sarpanch Snehal Harmalkar, panchas Ajit Morajkar, Asha Pai of Sao Mathias and panchas Prasad Pednekar and Ramesh Kunkolkar were among those present to tide over the situation.
Meanwhile, the issue has once again highlighted the plight of the Divar locals who are demanding the construction of a bridge connecting the island so that they are not held to ransom by such strikes.
A local, Chillaya Sawant, renewed the demand of a bridge as he said the islanders felt cut-off on Wednesday due to a halt in ferry services.
“A bridge would solve the problem once and for all. This is the first time that the ferry services were halted during a strike. It had never happened before,” he added.
