Team Goemkarponn
SANVORDEM: The protest against the Mirabag-Sanvordem bandhara has now reached its 45th consecutive day, with demonstrators insisting that the government provide a written order scrapping the project.
The agitators have set a two-day deadline for the authorities, warning that a “Chalo Azad Maidan” march will be launched on Monday if their demand is ignored.
At a press briefing, Sanket Bhandari stated that the government would be held accountable for any consequences if the agitation escalates. Protesters emphasized that previous verbal assurances from officials have not produced tangible results, and they will not end their strike without official written confirmation.
Former minister Deepak Pauskar recalled that elected representatives had previously assured locals that the project would be shelved if public opposition persisted. However, he noted that for the past 45 days, residents have been forced to protest on the streets, testing their patience.
Pauskar also criticized Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar for raising water scarcity concerns and suggested that the government focus on desilting existing reservoirs to improve storage rather than pushing the bandhara project.
Pradeep Kakodkar expressed disappointment that no government officials had visited the affected villages during the protest. He accused the authorities of prioritizing the Rs 400 crore project despite alternative water solutions and urged a written cancellation within two days to prevent further escalation.
Olancio Simoes alleged that the bandhara is tied to the Sagarmala project and could be used for coal transport and sand extraction, warning it would harm biodiversity and aquatic life while providing little benefit to locals. He called for statewide support for the Mirabag residents.
Other speakers, including Upendra Naik, Appa Naik, Vishwanath Narvekar, Rupesh Baba, and Santosh Gaonkar, echoed these concerns, cautioning that a lack of written assurance would inevitably intensify the ongoing protest.
