Bicholim: A group of Karapur villagers left for New Delhi on Saturday to participate in a protest at Jantar Mantar on July 13, marking the 100th day of their ongoing agitation against the proposed House of Abhinandan Lodha’s mega housing project in Karapur village. The protest is scheduled to be held from 10am to 1pm.The protesters aim to highlight what they describe as Goa govt’s negligent attitude and the failure of the state authorities and the project proponent to address the villagers’ demand to scrap the proposed project.President of the Karapur Biodiversity Management Committee, Gauresh Ghadi, said the protesters were compelled to take their protest to the national capital after receiving no positive response from Goa govt despite their prolonged demonstration.Legal adviser to the Karapur villagers, advocate Ajay Prabhugaonkar, said the villagers’ sole demand is the complete scrapping of the proposed mega housing project, which, he said, is being strongly opposed by the local community.Activist Swapnesh Sherlekar announced that the ‘Enough is Enough’ movement will organise a parallel solidarity protest at Azad Maidan, Panaji, on July 13 at 5pm in support of the demonstrators at Jantar Mantar. Sherlekar appealed to Goans to participate in the peaceful solidarity protest, stating that the movement seeks to prevent environmental destruction in the state and oppose policies that, according to the protesters, favour outsiders while sidelining local residents.
