PANAJI
Irate residents of Murdi-Khandepar on Thursday directed their ire at the local panchayat and heckled the sarpanch Sanjana Naik, demanding a halt to the work on the bhandara started by the WRD by clamping section 144 in the area.
Calling the government's decision to impose section 144 to execute the work a dictatorial act, the angry villagers were demanding immediate stoppage of the work on the bhandhara project, which they fear will aggravate the flooding problem they face every monsoon.
In heated discussions with the sarpanch, the villagers demanded that the panchayat approach the court to force the government to stop the work.
Naik told the group that the panchayat will take legal advice on the matter. Pointing out that the area is flood prone and dozens of homes get affected every year during the monsoon, the locals said, they fear that once the bhandara project is completed the situation could get worse.
The WRD had last week begun the work on the bhandara project with heavy police presence and the South Goa Collector imposing section 144 in the area.
The Murdi-Sonarbaag bandhara and pumping station project is meant to cater to the drinking water needs of the Priol constituency and surrounding areas and is estimated to cost Rs 88 crore.
Locals say some 50-odd houses get affected by flooding every monsoon and the number will certainly increase once the bhandara project is completed.
At the public hearing held last year, the authorities and engineers had failed to address their concerns, they added.
