Goa, May 19 -- Even as residents of Ponda continue to grap ple with worsening traffic congestion and an acute shortage of parking space, a decision to divert land origi nally acquired for a dedicat ed parking facility towards a riverfront development project has triggered strong public outrage. Members of the Ponda itess group along with the Enough Enough Movement have strongly opposed the move, alleging that the Ponda Municipal Coun cil (PMC) has ignored the city's pressing civic needs despite the land having been specifically acquired nearly three decades ago to address future parking requirements.

Advocate Hridaynath Shirodkar said locals were forced to approach the Ponda Deputy Collector after construction ac tivity linked to the riv...