PORVORIM
A tense standoff erupted in Porvorim as Public Works Department moved in to uproot the banyan tree and demolish the Dev Khapreshwar temple at Vodakkodem on Sunday to make way for the construction of the six-lane elevated corridor.
Heavy traffic congestion on both sides of the Panjim-Mapusa National Highway led to long queues of vehicles. Police struggled to manage the situation, while ambulances faced significant delays in reaching Goa Medical College hospital, Bambolim with patients.
The High Court of Bombay at Goa had approved the translocation of the 200-year-old banyan tree on National Highway 66 for constructing the flyover.
As soon as the news broke out that PWD had begun chopping the branches of the banyan tree and would subsequently demolish the temple, hundreds of locals gathered at the site opposing the action.
Devotees broke down on seeing the branches being cut and the bells being removed from the temple.
Tempers ran high when the contractor, under police protection, conducted the Visarjan rituals of Dev Khapreshwar while dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. The sight enraged the crowd, who confronted him, demanding to know who had authorized him to perform the puja.
Dy Superintendent of Police Vishwesh Karpe, Police Inspector Rahul Parab and several police personnel and Bardez Joint Mamlatdar were present at the site to maintain law and order.
The President of Goa unit of Congress Amit Patkar, Chairman of Porvorim Welfare foundation Vikas Prabhudessai, social activists Swapnesh Sherlekar, Adv Shailesh Gawas, Shanker Polji social worker Kalpana Morajkar, Sanjay Barde, AAP leader Amit Palyekar were also present.
Patkar expressed concerns that the Hindu religion is under threat, accusing the BJP government of targeting Hindu religious structures under the guise of development. He warned that what happened in Porvorim today could soon occur in Bhoma and other places. Patkar criticized the government for not first identifying a suitable location, constructing the temple, and then relocating the idol of Dev Khapreshwar.
Prabhudessai strongly criticized the manner in which the Visarjan of the Khapreshwar idol was conducted by a contractor's representative, who was dressed in jeans. He emphasized that the idol should be relocated only after performing the prescribed rituals, as outlined in Hindu scriptures. He further urged the state government to grant the temple committee at least four days to shift the Khapreshwar idol after completing the necessary rituals.
Social activist Swapnesh Sherlekar pointed out that, as per the High Court order, the PWD has permission to translocate the banyan tree but has no authority to remove the Khapreshwar idol. He alleged that the contractor was using a gas cutter to remove bells from the temple.
AAP leader Amit Palyekar asserted that there was no High Court order authorizing the removal of the Khapreshwar idol. He reiterated that the PWD had only been permitted to relocate the Banyan tree.
Adv Sheilesh Gawas and Shanker Polji, along with activist Kalpana Morajkar, accused the state government of disregarding public religious sentiments. Despite strong local opposition, they said, the government was determined to relocate the banyan tree and demolish the temple.
Meanwhile, the police detained one person for allegedly interfering in government work and using offensive language. This led to heightened tensions. Patkar confronted the Joint Mamlatdar of Bardez, demanding the arrest of a police officer who had allegedly hurled abuses at the public. He also presented video evidence of the incident to the official.
