Goemakrponn desk
PONDA: The locals of Murdi and Baga, on Sunday, held a public meeting at Hanuman Temple Premises at Baga Khandepar and strongly opposed a Bandara on Opa-Khandepar river, stating that the area falls in CRZ and that they were not taken into confidence by Minister Govind Gaude before initiating the project.
The locals said during High Tide, water reaches upstream up to Opa water treatment plant.
The Bandara will affect the livelihood of locals who depend on fishing.
The river is rich in (Khube) shellfish and other varieties of fish through which they earn a livelihood.
“Ecology will affect and cause flooding in monsoon with already the houses in the vicinity of proposed bandaras are flooding, and they witnessed significant flood in 1982. Around 300 tribal homes with about 1000 people would feel the impact of the proposed bandara,” said locals.
The locals also alleged that the EIA report is not carried correctly.
They aid the Bandara will inundate agriculture fields.
Locals say the Rs 106 crore project for water supply is not essential as already Ganjem plant supplies 10 MLD water to Priol.
The local Panch Shravani Gaude said the local Curti Khandepar Panchayat withdrawn the NOC given for the project due to opposition by locals.
