Residents of Kudchirem-Bicholim take part in a protest march in the village on Sunday.
BICHOLIM
Residents of Kudchirem-Bicholim on Sunday stepped up their opposition to the proposed construction and debris plant in the area.
The locals sought the blessing of the local goddess to protect their village and to keep them united. They also staged a protest march from the Kudchirem sports ground to the Sateri temple, chanting slogans against the project.
The locals also questioned panchayat body for not initiating any action on this issue and said they did not want any project which would destroy the natural flora and fauna and water bodies in the village.
A local, Prasad Umarye, called upon the residents to remain united without succumbing to the pressures from anyone.
Others locals, including Manohar Gaonkar, Savlo Gaonkar, and Shivnath Gaonkar also expressed their concerns over the proposed project.
The locals claimed that they are not against any political party but they are doing this in order to safeguard the natural heritage of their village.
Earlier on August 29, angry locals had objected to a survey being conducted for the proposed construction and debris plant in the area. A large police force was present at the site to maintain law and order and to enable the survey process.
According to sources, about 40,000 sq mtrs of land was reserved for a proposed construction and debris plant in Kudchirem sometime before 2019. The Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) is the nodal agency for the project.
Mayem MLA Premendra Shet had earlier clarified to the aggrieved locals that this project is not a waste treatment plant.
Stating that the government would be mindful to the concerns of the people, Shet sought to reassure the people that they would not suffer in any way, but promised that he would stand by the people and the village.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had previously interacted with members of the Maulinguem-Kudchirem panchayat in the presence of Mayem MLA Premendra Shet when they called on him to discuss the concerns raised by locals of the village.
Sawant asked residents of Kudchirem-Bicholim to suggest an alternative site for the proposed construction and debris plant, if they were opposed to the present site allotted to the project.
The chief minister also informed the panchayat members that no wet and dry waste will be brought to the site, as it would handle only demolished constructions and debris material.
