Samiti holds protest, cite concerns over public inconvenience and environmental impact
RISING VOICES: Members of the Goa Kul Mundkar Sangarsha Samiti and local residents protest in Pernem on Thursday against the proposed racing event at Mopa airport.
MAPUSA
Members of the Goa Kul Mundkar Sangarsha Samiti along with locals on Thursday staged a protest in Pernem opposing the proposed Goa Street Race (Formula-4) event planned in the Mopa airport area, citing serious concerns over public inconvenience, environmental impact and long-pending grievances of land losers.
Following the protest, the Samiti later submitted a detailed memorandum to the Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Pernem, urging the authorities to withhold permission for the event.
In the memorandum, the Samiti argued that the proposed racing event would necessitate the closure and diversion of key public roads for nearly three days, severely disrupting daily life in Pernem Taluka and surrounding villages.
It stated that the affected roads are routinely used by residents for commuting to schools, colleges, hospitals, markets and workplaces and warned that road closures would result in traffic congestion, delays and obstruction to emergency services such as ambulances and fire vehicles.
The organisation also raised concerns over noise and environmental pollution, claiming that high-speed racing vehicles, public address systems and spectator activity would violate permissible noise limits under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
According to the memorandum, the event would adversely impact senior citizens, students, patients and residents of nearby villages, besides causing air pollution, waste generation and potential damage to agricultural land, water sources and local biodiversity.
A significant portion of the memorandum focused on unfulfilled assurances given to land losers during the acquisition of land for the Mopa airport.
The Samiti alleged that commitments related to employment, skill development, land-for-land rehabilitation, enhanced compensation and revenue-sharing have not been honoured even more than two years after the airport became operational.
It stated that many affected families continue to face unemployment and economic insecurity.
The Samiti further alleged that airport-related employment and business opportunities are largely being awarded to non-locals, leaving original landowners marginalised.
Urging the administration to intervene, the Samiti requested that the grievances be placed before the State government and that no permission be granted for the Formula-4 race until public interest, environmental safeguards and justice to affected communities are ensured.
Convenor of the Goa Kul Mundkar Sangarsha Samiti, Dipesh Naik, its spokesperson Santosh Mandrekar, Jitendra Gaonkar and Avertino Miranda participated in the protest and also spoke on the occasion.
