NT Reporter
Curchorem
Villagers of Mirabag and surrounding areas, who have been agitating for the past 14 days against the bandhara project, have now decided to stage a sit-in outside the residence of local MLA Ganesh Gaonkar.
On Monday around 11 am, agitating villagers barged into the Sanvordem panchayat office holding placards and shouting slogans, ‘Aamka nakaa amka naka bandhara naka’. It is learnt that a panchayat meeting was in progress at the time. Confusion prevailed due to the commotion, and police were summoned to prevent any untoward incident. After the arrival of the police, the Sanguem BDO also reached the spot.
Earlier, sarpanch Chinmayi Naik had informed villagers that as the project is a controversial issue, the panchayat cannot interfere in filling the trenches dug by the contractor at the bandhara site.
Police and the BDO appealed to the villagers to carry on their agitation peacefully and not take the law into their hands.
Later, speaking to media persons, leader of the agitators Mangaldas ‘Aapa’ Naik said they doubt the integrity of local panch Sanjay Naik as he has not openly supported them and may be backing the bandhara.
When asked about their future course of action, he said, “We have decided to sit in front of the residence of MLA Ganesh Gaonkar to know his stand on the bandhara. In the past, he had assured us that he would be with us and that if we did not want the bandhara, he would also see that it
is not implemented.”
