MARGAO
The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday questioned the government for proposing around 2600 housing units in Cuncolim near the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, with party state convenor Elvis Gomes demanding to know whether these are meant for Cuncolkars or proposed with an intention to settle outsiders in the town and alter the demography of Cuncolim.
Elvis warned the government not to dump ill-conceived projects on Cuncolim and cited the instance of the Cuncolim Industrial Estate which is now playing host to polluting units, with the GSPCB least concerned in reining in on the polluters. He has demanded that the government and the Cuncolim Municipal Council should come clear on the housing project.
Addressing the media, the AAP state convenor demanded to know how the government can propose around 2600 housing units in Cuncolim without any housing policy. “There is no clarity on these housing units and whether they are meant for the people of Cuncolim or outsiders. We would like to know whether the government wants to change the demography of Cuncolim,” he said, while demanding to know whether the government has conducted a study on the requirements of the people.
He pointed out that the government ought to have conducted a detailed study before proposing any housing scheme in any village or town, warning that haphazard development may result in changing the character of a place.
Referring to the pollution at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, he said the people of the village have been fighting against pollution, but the GSPCB has showed scant regard to the sentiments of the local populace. “Leave alone any action, even the GSPCB Chairman Shetgaonkar does not even bother to reply to the people on their fears and apprehensions,” he said.
“I am not against housing if it will serve the needs of the local people of Cuncolim. But the huge number of 2600 houses shows that there is something more sinister,” he said, while asking the people to remain vigilant and thwart the move if it is harmful to people’s interests.
Elvis pointed out that as many as seven units, including a couple of food processing units, have been operating without the fire department approval. “There are units, which are operating without complying with the GSPCB norms. They don’t have the mandatory STPs. And, to add insult to injury, the GSPCB chairman does not even bother to reply to the correspondence of the people,” he said, while warning that AAP will be forced to knock the doors of the judiciary in the matter.
