falling in line
Investment Promotion Board had in-principle accorded approval to the Mini-India Park
Cortalim-Quelossim Panchayat on Thursday pass resolution granting NOC for the project
Two panch members fail to attend meeting raising some eyebrows
Fears that the approval by powerful IPB could influence other departments to fall in line and sanction approval
Cortalim VP okays provisional NOC for Mini-India Park
Two panch members do not turn up for the meeting
THE GOAN NETWORK
CORTALIM
As expected, the Cortalim-Quelossim Panchayat on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution to grant provisional NOC for the controversial Mini-India Park at Quelossim.
The resolution was proposed by local panch Sarpanch Hilario Figueiredo and seconded by Shantaram Girap.
However, two panchas including Deputy Sarpanch Merciana Vaz and Elvira Fernandes did not turn up for the meeting.
Interestingly, Merciana, who is wife of Cortalim ZP member Anthony Vaz, was party to the resolution in 2012 to issue 'willingness letter' for the project which was subsequently withdrawn sometime in 2015 after persistent demands from Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha.
In fact the meeting also witnessed some anxious moments after a local activist from Quelossim Lupino Xavier who is spearheading the opposition to the multi-crore project was initially denied entry to the meeting hall where the panchas were deliberating.
However, according to sources, the issue was settled after a staffer from Minister Alina's office intervened paving the way for Lupino to attend the meeting from outside the sarpanch's cabin.
It may be recalled that the Investment Promotion Board (IPB) had in-principle accorded approval to the project after having deferred the approval at its earlier meeting. However, giving in-principle approval does not automatically qualify for approvals by other departments including GCZMA, Environment Department, etc. But it is feared that the in-principle approval by the powerful IPB could influence other departments to fall in line and accord sanction to the project which is in an highly eco-sensitive zone.
It may be recalled that a large scale reclamation of land was done and cutting of mangroves was also carried out at the project site last year and the wood was confiscated by the forest department.
