PANAJI
Art and Culture Minister Govind Gawde on Sunday touched base with the Bhoma village, which is part of his Priol constituency, where a group of villagers held an impromptu public rally in support of their demand for a bypass road to save their homes and temples to be demolished for the highway expansion project.
Gaude was present and addressed the large group of women and youth who were part of the rally to oppose the current alignment of the highway expansion.
Gaude told them that that their land will not be acquired.
"No temple or cultivable land will be taken over for this highway. If this happens, I will be the first to oppose this alignment,” Gaude said, while addressing them.
Locals in Bhoma have for the last several months been agitating against the highway expansion project arguing that it will completely destroy the village. They have been demanding that the government opt for an alternative and bypass the village.
Gaude meanwhile, asked the villagers to identify the alternative bypass route and convince families whose land will be affected by it to part with it. The minister expressed the apprehension that if and when a decision is taken to go for the bypass, those who will be affected by it will raise objections and further delay the project.
Bhoma villagers have held several such impromptu rallies and meetings to highlight their demand for the bypass.
Meanwhile, PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral is on record that none of the temples will be affected as the road will be expanded only on the northern side and the other side to which the temples are situated will not be touched.
On Sunday, Gaude assured those gathered that he will stand with them if the Highway authorities propose to demolish houses or any part of the temple property there.
