PROPOSED DOCKYARD OPPOSED BY KUNDAIM VILLAGERS

PONDA: Residents of Mauzwadda ward of Kundaim and other villagers, under the banner of Kundaim Nagrik Samiti, on Monday, gathered at the panchayat office of Kundaim demanding that the sarpanch should stick to the October gram sabha resolution, which opposes the proposed dock at Mauzwadda.

“We still oppose proposed dockyard at Mauzwadda. It will cause problems to the locals and the villagers,” one of the gathered angry villagers said.

Around 30-odd villagers, who gathered on Monday at the panchayat office after they were informed that couple of panchas were insisting the sarpanch to provide permission for the said dockyard in their monthly meeting, asked the sarpanch to stick to the earlier gram sabha resolution and support the locals. According to the locals, the commencement of the dockyard (barge repairing works) would create problems and pollution. However, the sarpanch, Mr Gopi P Naik, speaking to this daily said that some of the locals want the dockyard, while there are few others who are opposing the project. “After the dockyard becomes functional, 70-odd locals would get jobs there,” he said adding that there were more signatories to the list demanding the dockyard than the people who are opposing it.

“However, we will stand by the villagers. If villagers do not want the dockyard to come up, we will not issue permission for it,” the sarpanch said. He disclosed that even though the few panchas are in support of the dockyard, there is no pressure on him to issue the permission for the dockyard.