MAPUSA
While reiterating their stand to oppose against any move to revive the decision to develop the open space/playground into plots in Cunchelim, politicians in the opposition along with activists on Saturday said they will soon meet Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai and impress upon him on the illegality of the move.
The leaders also appealed to the State government to withdraw the cases registered against them for protesting against the illegal move.
Senior Congress leader Vijay Bhike said all like-minded people without any political affiliation will come together to support the residents of Cunchelim and save the playground for the posterity.
“We will use all legal means to oppose and fight against any move to usurp the community land for private use. The playground in Cunchelim is the only open ground left for the people of Mapusa. We appeal to the government to keep the playground as an open space. If need be, we will also write to the chief minister to retain the playground for public use,” Bhike said.
He said some vested interests were trying to convert the open space and develop it into plots two years ago when the Covid pandemic was at its peak.
He further said at that time, all like-minded people came together to oppose the devious plan and even protested against the move at the ground.
“The police filed cases against us for organising a peaceful protest at the site. We had gone there only to support the locals who were facing injustice,” he said and appealed to the government to withdraw the cases against all the leaders.
The local residents and the local football and cricket clubs had alleged that the football and cricket grounds in Cunchelim village were being illegally developed into plots by the Cunchelim comunidade.
After a sustained campaign from the locals, the then Mapusa Municipal Council had decided to revoke the NOC for sub-division of plots on Cunchelim land encompassing the playgrounds.
State Shiv Sena President, Jitesh Kamat informed that those who were involved in the illegal work of developing plots on the playground were not booked, but action was taken against people who had gone to help the locals to save the land from the vested interests.
“We will never allow development of plots on the Cunchelim ground, come what may. Let the Goa Police book more cases against us in advance,” Kamat said.
He also said a delegation of like-minded people will very soon approach the Governor and bring to his attention the illegality committed against the locals in Cunchelim.
Social activists, Jawaharlal Shetye and Pravin Asolkar also spoke on the occasion.
The leaders also appealed to the State government to withdraw the cases registered against them for protesting against the illegal move.
Senior Congress leader Vijay Bhike said all like-minded people without any political affiliation will come together to support the residents of Cunchelim and save the playground for the posterity.
“We will use all legal means to oppose and fight against any move to usurp the community land for private use. The playground in Cunchelim is the only open ground left for the people of Mapusa. We appeal to the government to keep the playground as an open space. If need be, we will also write to the chief minister to retain the playground for public use,” Bhike said.
He said some vested interests were trying to convert the open space and develop it into plots two years ago when the Covid pandemic was at its peak.
He further said at that time, all like-minded people came together to oppose the devious plan and even protested against the move at the ground.
“The police filed cases against us for organising a peaceful protest at the site. We had gone there only to support the locals who were facing injustice,” he said and appealed to the government to withdraw the cases against all the leaders.
The local residents and the local football and cricket clubs had alleged that the football and cricket grounds in Cunchelim village were being illegally developed into plots by the Cunchelim comunidade.
After a sustained campaign from the locals, the then Mapusa Municipal Council had decided to revoke the NOC for sub-division of plots on Cunchelim land encompassing the playgrounds.
State Shiv Sena President, Jitesh Kamat informed that those who were involved in the illegal work of developing plots on the playground were not booked, but action was taken against people who had gone to help the locals to save the land from the vested interests.
“We will never allow development of plots on the Cunchelim ground, come what may. Let the Goa Police book more cases against us in advance,” Kamat said.
He also said a delegation of like-minded people will very soon approach the Governor and bring to his attention the illegality committed against the locals in Cunchelim.
Social activists, Jawaharlal Shetye and Pravin Asolkar also spoke on the occasion.
