Margao: Villagers opposing the proposed Mirabag bandhara project will shift their more than three-week-old protest to Azad Maidan in Panaji from Thursday, even as BJP state president Damodar Naik has signalled that govt is unlikely to push the project through against the wishes of locals.The residents of Mirabag in Sanvordem are agitating against the proposed bandhara, raising concerns about flooding that could damage homes and fields, harm the environment, and affect livelihoods. Protest leaders warned the agitation would intensify if govt failed to address their concerns.The decision to move the protest to the state capital comes days after residents gheraoed water resources department (WRD) assistant engineer, demanding the project be dropped entirely.Naik, who addressed the issue earlier this week, said chief minister Pramod Sawant has been briefed about the agitation.“The CM is aware of the agitation. He has been advised to look into the matter and will take an appropriate decision,” Naik said.Making the party’s position clear, Naik said govt would not force any project on a village if its people were opposed to it. “Our effort is to bring about improvements, but if the people are opposed to it, then it should not be taken forward,” he said, adding that development lost its relevance when it was resisted by those it was meant to benefit.With protesters forced to cook Shigmo meals outside their homes at the protest site, residents questioned govt’s commitment to its own stated values. “How can a govt that swears by Hindu values force its own people to celebrate their most cherished festival away from their homes?” they asked.
