Goemkarponn Desk
PERNEM: The farmers affected by the Mopa airport link road today have given 24 hours to the state authorities to immediately stop the ongoing work of the project failure of which they said would protest at the Pernem Police station.
The farmers also appealed to people for supporting them in the fight to protect their land and livelihood by joining them in the protest.
The affected farmers from villages surrounding the Mopa airport link road site, especially Tulaskarwadi, Shemecha Advan, Nagzar appealed to people from all walks of life – including social activists, environmentalists today showed their solidarity by participating in the protest.
The farmers during their protest said that the government officials misusing their position to abuse and suppress the people, defying the panchayat order and working for their own benefits should be removed from their positions.
“Indiscriminate destruction of natural resources is being done. Also the projects which are coming up in surrounding villages, like the Bailpar pump house project are all connected to the Mopa airport,” saidBaya Varak, General Secretary of Mopa Vimantal Pidit Jansanghatana said.
During this protest meeting, the affected farmers also decided upon their next step in this battle against the government to get back their land and livelihood.
The farmers also pointed out that the government is progressing with the work of link road legally by following all the procedures then why the names of the farmers are still highlighting in the Form I & IV.
“The government is not ready to listen to us. When our land was acquired, we were promised that our youth and locals will be given jobs. However, it is still not fulfilled. Our educated youth are working as security guards while the outsiders are working at the higher posts,” the farmers claimed.
“What is the point of approaching the court if the government destroys forest and clear the land for the link road before the verdict? What is the use even if the verdict is on our side, when the government has already started to destroy the forest,” the farmers lamented.