Residents cite lack of clarity, narrow road and risk of displacement
The road blockade agitation staged by residents in Patnem.
CANACONA
Residents from Patnem in Canacona municipality staged a ‘Rasta-Roko’ agitation on Wednesday to protest against a mega project coming up in the ward.
Over two months ago, the residents had submitted a written request to the authorities demanding clarity over a mega project coming up in the locality. They complained that officials had not taken any action in the matter, nor had they provided information regarding the width of the road leading to the proposed project in Patnem.
The locals claimed that the existing road is just two-and-a-half metres wide, but in the plan, the road is shown as 10 metres in width.
Mamlatdar Shirodkar, who rushed to the site, advised the protestors to submit a written application and stated that he would then correspond with the offices concerned. Following the Mamlatdar’s assurance, the protest was withdrawn.
Patnem Councillor Shubham Komarpant has demanded that the town planning department also conduct a joint inspection of the road. He stated that the road leading to the project is narrow and the earmarked 10-metre wide road will result in the displacement of residential houses.
Komarpant also questioned how residents would be able to drive their vehicles on this narrow road, since the residential project will have more than 40 apartments, claiming that this will lead to traffic congestion and cause inconvenience to the local residents.
Komarpant further stated that people are forced to take this step of ‘Rasta-Roko’ because they did not receive justice despite seeking it from various government departments.
Komarpant requested the Mamlatdar of Canacona, Gajesh Shirodkar, to intervene and ask the town planning department to jointly inspect the road in the area.
Komarpant stated that he has given the Dy Town Planner’s office eight days to conduct a joint inspection of the road and to take a decision, failing which another protest would be launched by locals.
