AERIAL VIEW
Now, is this agitation going to take a violent turn? If it does, who would be responsible, locals or the police or Revenue authorities or moreso the Government of Goa?
The locals say that the government was working to protect lands of landlords and wanted to deprive people of their houses and temples.
They even state that the landlords have control over 80 percent village land, while locals only have 20 percent, on which there are houses and temples.
One of the villagers also recalled how BJP leader and former CM Manohar Parrikar had assured them of a bypass road.
He said in temple premises, former CM Parrikar had said that with houses and temples on side of road, highway expansion not possible.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
On Friday, Bhoma residents petitioned the Scheduled Tribe commissioner against atrocities committed by the State admninistration during the National Highway demarcation.
The petitioners had the backing of Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) aka the Shel Melaulim locals, who opposed the IIT Goa campus taking away the lands of locals.
The locals have filed complaint under Section 3 of the ST & SC Prevention of Atrocities Act.
The locals said, “We have told the ST commissioner to visit the location and address their issues. We also have given official representation. ST Commissioner has assured us that he will visit the spot with his team,” said RGP Chief Manoj Parab.
Eyewitnesses say that there were old people and the authorities acted tough against them by pulling them and putting them in police bus.
The Police also allegedly threatened a young girl who said they wont get government or private jobs if police complaint is filed against them.
Looking at the way events unfolded on Wednesday, oen opines whether Goa is going to witness similar agitation like the Shel Melaulim.
Now, is this agitation going to take a violent turn? If it does, who would be responsible, locals or the police or Revenue authorities or moreso the Government of Goa?
The locals say that the government was working to protect lands of landlords and wanted to deprive people of their houses and temples.
They even state that the landlords have control over 80 percent village land, while locals only have 20 percent, on which there are houses and temples.
One of the villagers also recalled how BJP leader and former CM Manohar Parrikar had assured them of a bypass road.
He said in temple premises, former CM Parrikar had said that with houses and temples on side of road, highway expansion not possible.
So, why does the government and the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant look into the grivenaces of the people sympathetically? After all they are our very own Goans, who are not encroaching on anybody’s land but instead only want the govenment to spare their land and houses, which they owned or constructed with their hard-earned money.
Their demand also does not seem to be illegitimate as they are only asking for a bypass on stilts or a flyover.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has given so much of funds for Goa and we understand another few hundred crores would not empty his treasury but instead he would get the blessings of the poor tribes.
Instead of looking and impressing upon the Centre for a flyover, the Goa government says that no houses would be demolished.
Governmnent says only four houses are up for demolition and arrangements have been made for their rehabilitation.
However, locals say hundreds of people have got notices for land acquisition. How?
The govenrmnet needs to come clear on the issue as it coul;d bommerang on them ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in March-April.
Agreed the widening of road at Bhoma is need of the hour but development has to be carried out taking all stakeholders into confidence and not forcing the decision on them.
The govenrment must not wait for the agitation to take a violent turn as it did in case of the Shel Melaulim locals as hundreds of youth are still waiting for their names to be cancelled from FIRs to get a decent job.