NT Reporter
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A PowerPoint presentation by the Water Resources Department (WRD) on the proposed Mirabag bandhara (barrage) failed to convince villagers, who questioned officials over missing studies and documentation for the project.
The presentation, conducted by Additional CE Ankush Gaonkar at Ganpati Mandap, Sanvordem, was attended by CE Dyneshwar Salelkar, AE Shantaram Gaonkar and other officials. Villagers, including Aapa Mangaldas Naik, Sanket Bhandari, Upendra Naik, Vishwamala Naik and Nitesh Naik, raised queries immediately after the presentation, joined by advocates Pradip Kakodkar and Sajit Desai.
Villagers criticised WRD officials for being unable to satisfactorily answer technical questions. They said the department lacked key project documents, including the Environment Impact Assessment, tidal effect study, hydrological survey, flora and fauna assessment, and biodiversity analysis.
Pradip Kakodkar alleged that the 400-crore project seemed hastily pushed, possibly to secure commissions, and argued that desilting existing water bodies could supply adequate water at a much lower cost. He suggested placing the project funds in a fixed deposit, earning interest that could be used to finance the desilting work.
Villagers demanded the government scrap the project and announce its decision by Thursday. Sanket Bhandari warned that if the government did not act, they would launch a morcha at the Assembly in Porvorim, potentially involving over 4,000 participants.
During heated exchanges, most panchayat members, including Sarpanch Chinmayi Naik, and local panch Sanjay Naik, left the hall, while Deepak Sawant and Sidhi Pauskar remained.
ACE Ankush Gaonkar later told media that the presentation had been systematic, and the minutes of the meeting would be submitted to the government, which would decide the project’s future. Villagers, however, maintained they remained unsatisfied with the officials’ responses.
