PANAJI: Amidst tension, part of the structure of the 200-year-old Dev Khapreshwar temple at Vodakkodem, Porvorim, was demolished today to make way for the six-lane elevated corridor on National Highway 66. Minister and local MLA Rohan Khaunte slammed the entire unrest alleging it is being unnecessarily politicized.
The PWD officials carried out the demolition alongside the translocation of the sacred banyan tree after a 24-hour-long process. The temple's idol and other deities were relocated to a temporary structure near JMJ Hospital in Porvorim.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, last night, assured the public that the temple would be reconstructed at the site where the banyan tree is being translocated. "People should cooperate with us. The devasthan was removed as it would have collapsed while translocating the tree," he stated.
Speaking on the issue today, Khaunte stated it is being unnecessarily politicized.
"In 2019, when I was in the opposition, locals who are now protesting had signed consent forms for the road project, which were later submitted to the Supreme Court. The project was tendered only after the consent forms were filed. Why objections were not raised in 2021, when the work began," he questioned adding, "If concerns had to be raised, they should have been voiced in 2021, not now, for political gain."
Khaunte assured the government will ensure the Chief Minister's assurances are fulfilled while also stating he respects the sentiments of the people.
AAP Goa Chief Amit Palekar, however, strongly criticized the move, stating that the executive magistrate arrived with a 2019 order that did not mandate the temple’s demolition. "When the matter went to the High Court, it was to shift the banyan tree, not the idol. People were okay with that, but when it came to the temple, they protested," Palekar said.
He further alleged that the temple was removed without proper rituals, which aggravated public outrage.
