KONIR, April 27 -- AUGUSTO RODRIGUES

In a determined show of resistance, villagers from Pomburpa and Salvador do Mundo climbed a steep 1.5-kilometre hill on Sunday morning to reach Survey No. 29 in Pomburpa village, protesting alleged attempts by a building lobby to destroy a notified Private Forest by setting it on fire.

The land, measuring approximately 35,000 square metres, was officially notified as Private Forest in the Official Gazette (Series II No. 25) dated September 22, 2022. Armed with documents and determination, villagers gathered at the site and remained there until afternoon, saying their protest marked only the beginning of a wider struggle to protect the remaining forest cover.

Protesters expressed anger not only over ...