OLD GOA
The Chimbel locals unanimously opposed the demonstration housing project (DHP) which is proposed to come up in Provedoria property as they cast doubts whether it would actually be an old aged home project as is being propagated.
The decision was taken at Sunday’s gram sabha with the locals demanding that the area be instead used for providing basic facilities for the village like panchayat ghar, school, playground, multipurpose hall, market, health centre, police outpost, etc.
Speaking at the meeting, a local Ajay Kholkar pointed out that in the chief minister’s budget speech of 2021-22 it was mentioned that the project would be for the homeless/old aged homeless.
“However, in this year’s budget speech the CM stated that DHP has been proposed under the credit linked subsidy scheme vertical of Prime Minster’s Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) in which he said that 51 homeless persons will be accommodated. There is no mention of old aged home whatsoever,” Kholkar informed.
“We fear that the project is sought to be built under the garb of old aged home to benefit homeless people from outside the State and hence we oppose it as we do not want this area to be developed into an urban slum,” Kholkar said while making presentation of the project on a projector.
Finally, it was unanimously resolved to oppose the project and to send copies of the resolution to the PMO, CMO, Ministry of Urban Affairs and all authorities concerned.
Later, Kholkar said that an area of 10,000 square metres in the Provedoria property be allocated to the Chimbel panchayat to build the basic infrastructural facilities which are lacking in the village.
Another local Tukaram Kunkolkar objected to the inclusion of Kadamba plateau areas into the Greater Panaji PDA and urged the panchayat to convey their objections to the authorities concerned.
The issue of irregular water supply was discussed by local Govind Shirodkar who urged the need to replace the old GI pipelines to ensure that villagers get proper water supply.
A local Avinash Shirvoikar pointed to the poor condition of the main road in Chimbel which has been dug for laying underground power cables and left unrepaired.
“The commuters are facing a tough time traveling on the road and there is an urgent need to repair the same before any untoward incident occurs,” Shirvokar stated and asked the panchayat authorities to write to the PWD about the same.
Apart from discussing various other issues, the budget estimates of Rs 1.87 crore were also approved at the meeting.
