CANACONA
Armed with AAP's support, Galgibaga residents stopped the land-filling works of construction of four-lane road on Monday evening.
“It was a peaceful stoppage and no force was used, but the workers themselves stopped the works when requested to support people’s aspirations and demand for proper execution of works after taking all precautionary and safety measures in residents point of view,” informed AAP local leader Sandesh Telekar.
The villagers dispersed after PWD JE Nagraj Adpaikar assured to present the plan of entire highway road, with special description of Talpona-Galgibaga stretch and the Galgibaga bridge along with PWD AE and executive engineer at 11.30 am on Tuesday.
According to the residents and AAP leaders, it was not a forceful stoppage, but all of them marched to the contractors/supervisors/workers/drivers engaged in the works and asked them if they want to carry on their works at the cost of residents' safety.
“The workers stopped their operations and laid off all works by 4 pm,” said Telekar.
Interestingly, when Canacona Deputy Collector Chandrakant Shetkar was informed over phone about stoppage of works, according to one of AAP's representatives at the site, Shetkar refused to visit the site and instead asked the agitators to go to PWD office and hold discussions with them.
Residents for some time were seen bitterly complaining about the view taken by the deputy collector and threatened to protest if Canacona’s administration behaves in similar way in future, especially when residents had informed the authorities that failure to address their concerns on their safety and livelihood, people will march to stop the ongoing works on Monday.
