Margao: Villagers of Davondem in Fatorda on Tuesday staged a fresh protest against the Margao Municipal Council’s (MMC) continued inaction over a mega construction project in the village, nearly three weeks after they first marched to the municipality demanding a halt to the work.The protesters had hoped to raise the issue at a public interaction session held by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat at the municipality, but the MLA declined to hear them on the spot, saying he would first seek a briefing on the matter from the chief officer.Undeterred, the protesters met with MMC administrator Srinet Kothwale and presented their grievances to him. After hearing them out, Kothwale directed chief officer Madhu Narvekar to schedule an inspection of the project site at the earliest, take stock of the permissions obtained so far, and verify the status of the construction licence. Kothwale assured the villagers that the civic body would act on the matter within 10 days.The residents had first taken to the streets on July 9, marching from the project site to the MMC office, alleging that construction was continuing despite the licence having lapsed way back in 2008. At the time, the chief officer had promised a decision within 15 days, but locals said no visible action had followed, prompting Tuesday’s renewed protest.The villagers reiterated their objection to the scale of the project, which envisages around 300 flats and is expected to bring close to 1,200 new residents to the area, a change they fear will alter the local demography and strain civic infrastructure.Residents said their patience was wearing thin, and warned that they would intensify their agitation if the administration failed to act within the fresh 10-day deadline set by Kothwale.
