the goan I network
VASCO
The Save Kesarval Spring Movement (SKSM) on Friday threatened a legal battle if Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) did not scrap the proposed hotel project at Kesarval Spring, adding that they would oppose the project at all cost.
Addressing a news conference in Vasco, SKSM Convenor John D’Sa said they had submitted a memorandum to GTDC against the proposed hotel project on Friday.
“Locals are against GTDC’s decision to lease out Kesarval Spring property to a private party to construct a hotel project and we reject the tourism minister’s profit-sharing proposal of the hotel project,” said D’Sa. “Residents of Quelossim have vociferously and unanimously rejected the project at the Gram Sabha on July 22 in the very presence of Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha,” D’Sa added.
Quelossim-based social activist Lopinho Xavier said plans were already underway to take back the land from GTDC and hand it over to the Quelossim Panchayat.
“No matter what happens, we will not permit the development of hotel at Kesarval Spring. The Quelossim Village Development Committee (VDC) has already passed a resolution to take back the land and has requested the government to hand it back to the Panchayat.”
“We will develop our spring by crowd funding if required, but we don’t want it to be with GTDC anymore. We will not allow GTDC to set up the proposed hotel project,” said Xavier.
A member, Joaquim Fernandes, said Kesarval Spring was acquired by the PWD from Comunidade and other parties for a song in 1989, to develop the spring and not to construct a hotel. “Using this land for an entirely different commercial purpose is and open fraud orchestrated by GTDC,” said Fernandes.
Another member, Caetano Da Silva, said GTDC had hurt the sentiments of people in Cortalim constituency by proposing the hotel project.
“Villagers voluntarily unite every year for a cleanliness drive, while GTDC claims the land had never been maintained all these years,” said Da Silva.
