Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: In an unconventional yet impactful protest, members of the Goa Pradesh Youth Congress (GPYC) marked World Environment Day by planting saplings in potholes along the dilapidated roads of Sancoale, highlighting the poor infrastructure and demanding immediate government intervention.
Led by GPYC working president Mahesh Nadar, the protest aimed to draw attention to the worsening condition of roads, dust pollution, and public safety concerns in the area — particularly along the major district road affected by ongoing flyover works at Dabolim.
“We are celebrating World Environment Day, but the government is only interested in photo ops. They are not serious about the real issues faced by people every day,” said Nadar. “In Sancoale, people are dealing with dust, broken roads, water shortages, waterlogging, and flooding — all aggravated by the unregulated work of the contractor handling the flyover project.”
Nadar alleged that the road is full of hazardous potholes and pits without any signage or lighting. “A passenger bus had toppled here, leading to two deaths. Another bus tilted dangerously, prompting bus operators themselves to start filling potholes for their own safety,” he added.
He accused the government, Cortalim MLA Anton Vas, and the Sancoale Panchayat of turning a blind eye to the situation. “This constituency has become an orphan. No one is ready to take responsibility. The contractor has cut the MDR road abruptly and continues to work without following basic safety norms,” Nadar charged.
Calling the situation alarming, he said, “We don’t want to celebrate Environment Day at the cost of people’s lives. The saplings in the potholes are not just a protest — they are a warning. We want people to realise the danger and we want the government to act. We will continue planting these saplings from Sancoale up to MES College junction.”
He demanded that the government deploy traffic police along the stretch and ensure proper signage and lighting. “We also demand that the contractor be held accountable for the mess created, especially the waterlogging due to damaged drainage lines,” Nadar said.
The unusual protest received significant attention from locals, many of whom supported the initiative, urging authorities to prioritise public safety over ceremonial observances.
