The Goan Network
Panjim
The 'Solidarity to Save Chimbel Lake' movement under convenor Ana Gracias on Monday decided to approach IT Minister Rohan Khaunte seeking a presentation on the project.
The group said it will soon send the letter to Khaunte seeking the presentation at a date, place and time convenient to him.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, the villagers of Chimbel and NGOs protesting against the IT park project said they will write to Khaunte asking for a presentation in a "sufficiently large hall" "followed by a question and answer session" to allay their fears about the proposed IT Park.
"We also request you to give up your campaign of harassment and violence against the peaceful villagers of Chimbel who are democratically and peacefully opposing the IT Park at Chimbel," the letter which will be forwarded to the minister stated, adding that the protestors are "concerned about the impact on the environment and the bio-diversity due to the proposed IT Park at Chimbel that you (Khaunte) have been pushing aggressively and violently."
Earlier, Goa Foundation director Claude Alvares said that if the people were convinced by the presentation, they would support the project wholeheartedly. However, should the proposal be unacceptable, then they would go to any extent to oppose it and ensure it does not come through.
Khaunte had given a presentation on the proposed park to different groups of people but had earlier said that the protestors would not be shown the plan "unless they asked for a presentation."
Protests against the IT Park at Chimbel have flared up in the recent past, while the government has been upping the pressure to go ahead with it.
Recently, vegetation at the site in Chimbel had been burnt on multiple occasions.
Some protestors have also faced physical assaults and the agitators against the IT Park have alleged Khaunte's hand behind these incidents in letters to the DGP Dr Muktesh Chander.
The NGOs who joined the villagers of Chimbel also said that the government should stop setting the land on fire. They also demanded that the presentation articulate exactly how the government planned on giving 80% of the jobs at the IT Park to Goans.
Adding muscle to the agitation against the IT Park several NGOs joined hands with the villagers including Goa Foundation, Goenchi Mati Movement, Goenkars against PDA, Goencho Avaaz, Chimbel Manch, Merces Manch Welfare Association, Goa Helping Hands, United Porvorim Citizens Forum, Colva Civic and Consumer Forum, Goa Green Brigade, Assagao Citizens Forum, Human Rights Law Network and the Candolim Residents and Consumer Forum.
