OLD GOA
The locals of Bhoma have voiced their opposition to any move to demolish temples in the area as part of the expansion of highway.
Speaking to reporters near the Sati Devi temple at Bhoma, on Sunday, locals informed that due to the highway expansion project three temples namely the Sateri temple, Mahadev temple and the Sati Devi temple face a demolition threat.
“This is the reality of the BJP government today which is talking about Hindutva,” a local informed while adding that they will not allow that to happen at any cost.
“We have already proposed two alternate routes for the highway and the government should take the highway through any of the two routes to save the temples as well as the houses of the Bhoma locals,” informed Sanjay Naik.
Naik further castigated the authorities for trying to mislead the people that the temples won’t get destroyed as they would build a flyover.
“The authorities are stating that the flyover will be of 25 metres when the actual plan is of 60 metres,” Naik informed while stating that the authorities are not revealing the project in totality to the people.
He further alleged that the authorities are not taking an alternate route as they want to favour the real estate lobby as the highway road along the current route will benefit them.
Extending his support to the Bhoma locals, historian Prajal Sakhardande expressed discontent that the government is trying to destroy the centuries-old temples which, in fact, need to be preserved.
“This historic temples should be declared as heritage temples and not destroyed in the name of development,” Sakhardande stated.
“On one side the government says it will rebuild destroyed temples and on the other it is planning to destroy existing temples, which exposes the government’s double standards,” Sakhardande opined.
