Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Mar 6: Four persons were detained on Friday after they staged a protest from the visitors’ gallery in the Goa Legislative Assembly on the opening day of the budget session over the proposed dam on the Zuari River.

The disruption drew sharp criticism from Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, who termed the incident a “terrorist kind of attitude”.

The 17-day budget session began at 11.30 am, and soon after proceedings started, four persons seated in the visitors’ gallery shouted slogans and displayed placards opposing the proposed dam project at Mirabag village in Kushawati district.

Residents of Mirabag have been staging a sit-in protest for the past 25 days against the dam, fearing that nearly 500 houses would be submerged once the reservoir is created.

Amid the sloganeering, Sawant urged immediate action against the protesters. “We cannot tolerate such behaviour in the House. This is a terrorist kind of attitude. Today you are shouting slogans; tomorrow you may even fire bullets,” he said as commotion briefly disrupted proceedings.

Vijai Sardesai, MLA of the Goa Forward Party, said the protesters had resorted to the act because the government had refused to hear their concerns despite the prolonged agitation.
Assembly marshals quickly intervened and detained the four individuals, restoring order in the House.

Sudin Dhavalikar of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party said he had not witnessed such behaviour in his 27-year political career and demanded strict action.

The Mirabag village falls under the Sanvordem Assembly constituency represented by Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar.

Meanwhile, Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar defended the project, stating that the dam is planned to meet the region’s future drinking water needs by storing water from the Zuari River that otherwise flows into the sea.

Normal proceedings resumed after the protesters were removed from the gallery. The Chief Minister is scheduled to present the State budget later in the day.