CANACONA
Residents and motorists in Loliem-Polem reacted with anger after the NH-66 road at Maxem bridge was blocked to enable the shooting of a film on Friday morning.
Highway traffic was halted for well over an hour, as the film crew reportedly took up shooting in the middle of the road, sparking off angry reactions from motorists and residents.
A local Vishant Prabhugaongkar claimed that no highway can be blocked under any circumstances even if any permission is obtained for a film shooting from the authorities concerned.
According to sources, the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) had granted permission for a film shoot to a party from Porvorim on Friday on the Galgibaga road, Galgibaga-Maxem road and bridge from 7 am to 9 pm and is reported to have notified the Poinguinim Panchayat accordingly.
However, Loliem-Polem Sarpanch Sachin Naik claimed no such order or any intimation had been received from ESG by the Loliem-Polem panchayat, as one end of Galgibaga-Maxem Road with bridge comes under the jurisdiction of the Loliem-Polem Panchayat.
Locals, however, claimed that the ESG order clearly specified that regular traffic movement is not disturbed or obstructed at any of the film shooting sites mentioned in the order/application and that, while shooting, no nuisance, disturbances or obstruction is to be caused to the general public/tourists.
“Such daylight violations by a film shooting party and moreover supported by Canacona police authorities is a clear violation of the ESG permission. The ESG and police need to explain to the public why traffic was stopped at Maxem junction and how film shooting was allowed on the Maxem bridge without intimation to the local body (Loliem-Polem panchayat),” remarked a resident.
