Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Oct 5: Activists and residents of Chimbel have alleged that access to Toyyar Lake has been blocked following the construction of the BJP's state office on the Kadamba Plateau.

ST activist Govind Shirodkar and local residents alleged that construction debris and gravel had been dumped along the pathway leading to the water body, making it difficult for villagers to access the lake.

“They have blocked our path. They have dumped gravel along the path and other debris. The BJP office may be a five-star or a seven-star, but the way they have blocked access to Toyyar Lake, they will struggle,” Shirodkar said.

He said residents would soon become increasingly dependent on the lake for their daily water requirements as the monsoon season draws to a close. The locals have urged the authorities to remove the debris and restore access to the water body at the earliest.

“This is not against the government. This is a question for BJP state president Damu Naik and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. They should come and see what they have done here. The local villagers who depend on this route have been inconvenienced and BJP does not care for them,” Shirodkar said.

Locals further alleged that an attempt had been made to create an alternative access road through land marked as open space, while the earlier pathway had been incorporated into the compound of the BJP state office.

Residents have called for immediate intervention by the authorities to clear the pathway and ensure continued access to the lake.