the goan I network
PANAJI
The ongoing controversy over the Chimbel IT-Park project is turning out to be a battle between two groups in St Cruz constituency. On Sunday, the Merces panchayat members joined with their counterparts in Chimbel to express support for the project a day after opponents conducted a public meet in a show of strength.
At a joint press conference, the Merces and Chimbel panchayat members told media persons at a press conference in Panaji that they fully back the project.
Merces panch Prakash Naik said all members of the
Merces panchayat are supporting the IT Park project.
“We will work for Rohan Khaunte if he contests in St-cruz constituency. Rudolf Fernandes is doing nothing besides opposing development projects in the constituency,” said Naik, who incidentally had unsuccessfully contested the 2017 Assembly election from St Cruz constituency on a MGP ticket.
He also alleged that Rudolf Fernandes is opposing the project under the fear that he will lose his land around the IT-Park project.
Naik said, since the IT park is for betterment of the people of Merces, the panchayat members have also supported the project.
“We support the IT park project. We will also go for meetings in support of IT park,” Naik added.
Sarpanch of Chimbel panchayat Chandrakant Kuncolkar claimed that besides all panch members of Chimbel, 95 per cent villagers also support the project.
“Only a few people are opposing the project,” Kuncolkar said, adding that the project will provide jobs to locals. He alleged that the opposition to the project is politically motivated.
