OLD GOA
Several Chimbel locals staged a protest on Sunday against the proposed felling of 31 trees in the Provedoria property for an old aged home project.
The locals highlighted that there is no need to fell the trees for the project when the unused and unsafe building, adjacent to the site, could very well be renovated or repaired or demolished to pave way for the project.
“The old building could be renovated or repaired and then it could be used for the 40-bedded project. There is absolutely no need to fell the trees as there is an option. If there was no option we could have understood,” Chimbel manch secretary Tukaram Kunkolkar informed.
“We are not against development, but the village lacks basic facilities like a playground, school, community hall, and instead of fulfilling our demands, such types of projects are being unnecessarily thrust upon us,” Kunkolkar opined and added that the project will meet the same fate as the IT project which the government has tried to thrust upon the people of Chimbel.
But, when pointed out that after an opposition to the project proposed on the ruins, the locals themselves had suggested the site, Kunkolkar said that he is unaware of the same.
In the same tone, though, Kunkolkar counter questioned as to what will happen to the existing building.
“There is already a structure which could easily accommodate the 40-bedded old aged home. Then, why is it not being used? We have also questioned the Provedoria director on the same but we did not get any answer,” Kunkolkar stated.
“The government is itself planting trees and on the other hand they are planning to cut century-old trees,” he added.
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‘No proposal from villagers’
OLD GOA:
Stating that the Chimbel locals should be taken into consideration before bringing projects in the village, the villagers informed that there was absolutely no proposal from the village panchayat or the villagers for the old aged home project.
Tukaram Kunkolkar said that there was no demand from any quarters on the need of an old aged home.
“We questioned the Provedoria director to inform who had proposed the project but she refused to answer us,” Kunkolkar stated while demanding that the issue should be discussed threadbare at the gram sabha.
When pointed out that the panchayat authorities have taken a decision not to hold gram sabha till the curfew is lifted, Kunkolkar said that hardly a hundred locals attend the gram sabha.
“The Chimbel panchayat is only using curfew as an excuse as they know that they won’t be able to face the ire of the villagers as they have failed on all fronts,” Kunkolkar said.
