MARGAO
A delegation of citizens of Cuncolim along with former Minister Joaquim Alemao and Yuri Alemao, besides Cuncolim Municipal Council councillors Shashank Desai, Succorina Coutinho and Panzie Coutinho called on TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai with a plea to get the government scrap the controversial 2600 housing units proposed near the Cuncolim Industrial Estate.
While reassuring the delegation that the government should not force any project against the wishes of the people, Sardesai said he would lead a delegation to the Urban Development Minister Milind Naik to discuss the issue and if required will seek the intervention of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to protect the interests of the people of Cuncolim.
A memorandum submitted by the people to the TCP Minister called upon Sardesai to use his good offices to scrap the controversial housing project. They requested Sardesai in his capacity as the TCP Minister not to allow conversion of the proposed land to settlement zone and if possible to mark the proposed site as no development zone and
halt the plan to foist the housing project on the people of Cuncolim.
They drew attention of the minister to the struggle by the residents, including former MLA Joaquim Alemao, against the Goa Housing Board project mooted at Panzorconne. They said the residents of Cuncolim are choked with industrial pollution and migrants, putting a strain on water and power supply.
“The proposed housing colony with 2600 units will totally change the demography of Cuncolim and create an imbalance in the population which may lead to the disturbance of peace and tranquility of the village,” Yuri later told the media.
After giving the delegation a patient hearing, Sardesai said he has spoken to Urban Development Minister Milind Naik and will voice the concerns of the people of Cuncolim to the minister.
“The concern raised by the people vis-Ã -vis change in demography is fully justified. We will see that something that is not wanted by the people is not thrust upon them. But, let us first have talks with minister Milind. We can take future steps by talking to the Chief Minister,” he said.
“Prima facie, the housing project appears to be a central scheme being implemented in Goa through GSUDA being the nodal agency. But there are certain guidelines, which have not been complied with by the government. The process seems to have been initiated before Milind took over the reins of office. If people are opposed to the scheme, it cannot be thrust upon them,” Sardesai asserted.
When the citizens raised the issue of pollution, the TCP Minister also took potshots at the Congress for bringing the polluting industries to the Cuncolim Industrial Estate.
“The area playing host to the Industrial estate is a beautiful place which would have been a perfect zone for the IT industry, but the then Congress government chose to invite power guzzlers which have all turned out to be polluters,” he added.
