Allege land not acquired, landowner not consulted
Ponda: Tension prevailed in Bhoma on Sunday after villagers blocked a road in protest against soil testing for the proposed highway expansion, alleging that the exercise was being carried out on land that had not been acquired.
A large number of residents, along with the sarpanch and panch members, gathered at the site demanding that the work be stopped immediately and seeking clarification on how soil testing was being undertaken on land that had not been formally acquired.
Villagers alleged that the authorities and the contractor had failed to adequately inform landowners before commencing the exercise.
The situation turned tense when a heated argument broke out between villagers and representatives of the contractor at the site. During the altercation, residents alleged that the contractor’s site in-charge verbally abused them and referred to them as “Pakistanis”.
The alleged remark sparked outrage and further escalated the protest.
Following the confrontation, villagers approached Mardol police station and lodged a complaint against the site in-charge, demanding appropriate action. Police intervened to defuse the situation and restore normalcy.
Residents maintained that they were not opposed to development but insisted that all legal procedures, including land acquisition and consultation with affected landowners, must be completed before any work was undertaken.
They also demanded greater transparency from the authorities regarding the proposed highway expansion project.
Police stated that the matter is being looked into and further inquiry is underway.
