OLD GOA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s announcement in his budget that a Rs 5.54 crore Demonstration Housing Project (DHP) will be set up in Chimbel has set off opposition among the locals, with Revolutionary Goans planning an agitation on the issue.
The project has been planned under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme of Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana “ Urban (PMAY-U) and will come up in Provedoria property.
Voicing opposition to the project, RG leader Ajay Kholkar called for a meeting of the core committee and made the members aware of the project, which he said will lead to an urban slum.
“The project, which has been planned, is of no benefit to the locals as it seeks to provide housing to urban homeless persons,” said Kholkar, while adding that those persons who are residing within the city, municipal or town limits are eligible to apply.
“As it is, we are facing a shortage of land to set up facilities for the village like proper Panchayat Ghar, playground, school, health centre, community hall, etc. On one hand, we are made to beg for land and on the other, the government is trying to use land in the village for such useless projects,” Kholkar opined.
He then said the project has already been implemented by the Centre and only the execution is pending.
“Hence there is a need to oppose the project tooth and nail, and for that, we have to create awareness among the villagers so that we can garner maximum support against the project at the upcoming gram sabha,” Kholkar added.
Meanwhile, Kholkar has submitted a letter to the Chimbel sarpanch urging for adding the issue for discussion on the project in the agenda of the gram sabha slated on April 17.
At the gram sabha, the agenda currently includes reading and confirming proceedings of the previous meeting, placing the budget for 2022-23 and discussing development proposals received from the gram sabha members.
The panchayat has set a deadline of 12 noon on April 13 to submit proposals for the gram sabha.
Chimbel panchayat in dark over issue
OLD GOA
Even as the project has been officially announced to be set up in Chimbel, the panchayat authorities are in the dark over the issue.
When contacted, Chimbel Sarpanch Manisha Chopdekar said the panchayat is yet to receive any communication from the government on the project.
"We have not received any communication with respect to the project," Chopdekar added.
Incidentally, some months back, locals of Chimbel had opposed cutting of trees within Provedoria property for the purpose of the project.
