Bhoma bypass road: Locals ask p’yat to stop work in protest

Ponda: Standing firm on their demand for a bypass road, the Bhoma villagers have asked the panchayat to boycott all official work as a protest against govt’s reluctance to consider the panchayat correspondence.
The demand by villagers came after the panchayat members told them that govt has not been considering the correspondence sent to them pertaining to the demand of a bypass road. However, the panchayat body would consult with the block development officer and other experts on its implementation.
Former sarpanch Damodar Naik said the panchayat had been doing all necessary correspondence to govt. However, govt is reluctant to consider their demand.
The gram sabha of the Bhoma-Adcolna panchayat in Ponda was held on Sunday at the Banastarim market complex hall.
The former sarpanch said the villagers are firm on their demand for a bypass road through farmland. The villagers do not agree with the measurements taken for highway expansion on April 22 on the chief minister’s direction, Naik said.
The villagers said govt has already constructed several roads through khazan land across the state but is not ready to construct the same at Bhoma.
Referring to soil testing being conducted by highway authority, Naik said the panchayat would confront the contractor about the work going on without permission from the panchayat.