Goa CM vows support for Agonda residents affected

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has announced government support for the people of Agonda affected by a recent high court ruling. On Tuesday, in the legislative assembly, he said the government would file an application to intervene in the case. The statement came after Congress MLA Altone D’Souza raised concerns about the sealing of 67 commercial structures in Agonda. D’Souza highlighted that many locals had lost their jobs due to this order, as they were employed in the affected establishments. On March 19, the high court ordered the sealing of these structures because they threatened turtle nesting sites. This decision has angered local residents who ran these businesses. On Monday, protesters marched in Chawdi and submitted a memorandum to the deputy collector. They urged the government to reconsider its actions. Protesters claimed that while their units were shut down quickly, violations by another party went unaddressed. They accused the authorities of ignoring construction violations related to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules.