Team Goemkarponn
NEW DELHI: Marking 100 days of continuous opposition to the proposed mega housing project at Karapur, villagers and environmental activists staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, seeking the Centre’s intervention and demanding that the project be scrapped.
The demonstration was organised to draw national attention to concerns over the project’s potential impact on the environment, local livelihoods and the future of Karapur and nearby villages. Protesters said the movement has remained peaceful but steadfast since it began.
Environmental activist Dr. Swapnesh Sherlekar, advocate Ajay Prabhugaonkar and several residents from Karapur and the neighbouring Sarvan area participated in the protest, expressing solidarity with the movement and reiterating their opposition to the proposed development.
Legal adviser to the Karapur villagers, advocate Ajay Prabhugaonkar, said the community’s only demand is the complete withdrawal of the proposed mega housing project, which, he said, is being strongly opposed by local residents.
Dr. Swapnesh Sherlekar announced that the ‘Enough is Enough’ movement will hold a parallel solidarity protest at Azad Maidan in Panaji on July 13 at 5 pm in support of the demonstrators at Jantar Mantar. He appealed to Goans to participate peacefully, stating that the movement aims to prevent environmental degradation and oppose policies which, according to the protesters, prioritise the interests of outsiders over those of local communities.
The protesters said they want to draw attention to what they described as the Goa government’s failure to address the villagers’ demand to scrap the project. They also alleged that both the state authorities and the project proponent have failed to respond positively despite the prolonged agitation.
President of the Karapur Biodiversity Management Committee, Gauresh Ghadi, said the villagers were compelled to take their protest to the national capital after receiving no favourable response from the Goa Government during the 100-day-long movement.
The protesters warned that if their demands continue to be ignored, the agitation will be intensified in the coming days, while reaffirming their commitment to a peaceful and democratic movement.
