OLD GOA
With as many as four temples, in close vicinity of the highway road, locals of Bhoma fear that these religious structures would be demolished if the highway expansion is allowed through the village.
The locals have absolutely no faith in PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral’s statement that not a single temple will be demolished.
“Sometime back, some officials came to mark the area where the road would be widened. But they did not mark the area towards the temples. Why was that?” a senior citizen Waman Shirodkar questioned, while stating that if the minister is firm that no temple would be demolished then he should come on the ground along with the officials and show them how that would be possible.
“We are waiting for them to come to the village and explain to us. But, till date, they have not come on the site. Instead, the minister gives a presentation in Panaji,” Shirodkar stated, while adding that it points towards a hidden agenda where the people are misled.
Then, the main issue that the locals are concerned about is the wiping out of their culture. The temples are known to propagate the culture of a village and it is the same with Bhoma where they hold all their village festivals, including its famous ‘Kalo’.
“The ‘Kalo’ is celebrated for generations, and it showcases our culture and heritage,” Shirodkar said and opined that this culture will be wiped out if the temples get demolished.
“During the ‘Kalo’, we take the chariot from the temple and then onto the road,” he said while opining that if the highway road is expanded, then how they would be able to practice their traditions passed from generations to generations.
Further, the locals informed that with the temples in close proximity of the highway road, any work on the widening project would have impact on the temples.
“Already, it is seen in Agassaim how the houses have developed cracks due to the highway work and the same will be the case with the temples which would not be able to withstand any vibration on account of the heavy digging work that would be undertaken for the road widening,” another local stated.
Apart from the danger to the temples, the culture and the heritage, there is danger to the houses and commercial establishments as well.
The locals informed that around 64 houses and several commercial establishments are going to be affected due to the project.
“The PWD minister says only four houses will be demolished. Then, why names of 64 households have been mentioned in the Official Gazette?” questioned another local.
A local, Sitaram Gaude, running a small general store, informed that he has been running the shop since the past 25 years and it has been his only livelihood.
“At the moment, I earn my livelihood on this shop and if that is taken away then I have no other alternative,” Gaude, who along with his wife survive on the income from the shop, informed.
Gaude then informed that a bypass road is the only solution to the issue.
“There are two bypass roads proposed, one through the industrial estate and the other through the fields. So, the government should look into these options,” he urged.
