Four people were detained on Friday (March 6, 2026) after they staged a protest from the visitors’ gallery of the Goa Assembly on the opening day of the budget session against the proposed dam on the Zuari River.
The protest drew criticism from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who called the disruption a “terrorist kind of stance”. The 17-day budget session of the State Assembly started at 11:30 am and soon after it started, four people sitting in the visitor’s gallery were shouting slogans and displaying placards.
The protesters were part of the agitation against the proposed dam on the Zuari River in Mirabag village of Kushawati district, where villagers have been holding demonstrations against the project for the past 25 days amid fears that 500 houses will be flooded due to the reservoir.
Amid sloganeering, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the House that the protesters should be arrested immediately. “We cannot tolerate this behavior in the House. This is a terrorist attitude. You are doing it now, tomorrow you may even shoot bullets,” he said, even as the uproar in the House continued for several more minutes.
Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai said the protesters reached the House because the government refused to hear them, despite their 25-day protest. Assembly marshals immediately swung into action and arrested four protesters.
Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA Sudin Dhavalikar told spokesperson Ganesh Gaonkar that he had not seen such behavior in his 27-year career and demanded strict action against the protesters.
Incidentally, Mirabag village falls under the Sanvordem Assembly constituency represented by Speaker Gaonkar. Referring to the opposition benches, Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar told the House, “This is no way to win elections.”.
The dam is being built to meet the drinking water requirements of the future, Mr. Shirodkar said, adding that water from the Zuari River, which flows into the sea, will be dammed. The House resumed normal operations after the protesters were removed from the gallery. The Prime Minister will present the national budget later in the day.
Published – 06 March 2026 14:27 IST
