OLD GOA
Several hundreds of protestors participated in a motor rally on Saturday, to protest against the marina project which is proposed to be set up at Nauxi in the Zuari bay.
The rally started at Odxel at around 4.30 pm and reached Nauxi at around 7.30 pm.
The three-hour rally, traversing more than 40 kms, passed through Odxel, Dona Paula, Bambolim, Siridao, Curca, Batim, Goa Velha, Agassaim, and finally culminated at Nauxi, where a public meeting was held.
All along the way, the protestors shouted slogans against the project, held placards and vowed to oppose it tooth and nail.
A large police force stayed with the protestors throughout the journey as precautionary measures.
On reaching Nauxi, the protestors gathered at the Nauxi bay and lit torches.
A song titled ‘Amkam marina naka' was also played at the meeting, with the protestors swinging to the tune. Some women also took part in the fugdi to the tune of the song, while a group comprising young kids also played the ‘zagor’.
Speaking at the meeting, Adv Suresh Palkar thanked the participants for coming out in large number against the project.
“I had invited the St Andre MLA, but he did not participate in the rally. If he was with the people, he would have come out in our support against the marina project,” Palkar added while informing that the MLA is also invited for the public meeting at Siridao.
“At the Siridao meeting, it will be clear whether the MLA is with us or not,” he concluded and vowed that people would not keep quiet till the marina project is scrapped.
Speaking on the occasion, activist Rama Kankonkar said it was time to show the government how many fishermen exist in Nauxi.
“The government cannot see during the day. So, we want to show it how many fishermen exist in Nauxi, by lighting torches besides the canoes so that at least during night the government sees clearly,” said Kankonkar, while referring to the chief minister’s statement that only fishermen exist in Nauxi.
“And we are going to light these torches in entire Goa against the project,” Kankonkar stated and urged all Goans to come out in large numbers on Sunday to participate in the public meeting against the project at Siridao.
A 90-year-old fisherman, Pandurang Kankonkar, urged the people to be united in opposing the marina project. “I have worked hard in this bay and those trying to finish our livelihood will not prosper,” Kankonkar decried, while invoking gods to save the village from the disastrous marina.
Various NGOs and activists also participated in the rally.
