OLD GOA
The IT Park issue continues to dominate the Chimbel gram sabha, even as the panchayat authorities continue to drag their feet in the matter.
Highlighting the issue, Govind Shirodkar said the panchayat had adopted a resolution which states that the local body will ask for job reservations, playground, school and other facilities. This, he said, exposed the local body, which supported the IT Park project.
“At the gram sabha the panchayat says it is opposed to the IT Park, but then does the exact opposite by passing a contradictory resolution at the fortnightly meeting,” Shirodkar chided, while stating that it is now amply clear that the panchayat is only playing games with the villagers.
Speaking further, Shirodkar pointed out how the government had bypassed the local panchayat on Tuem regarding the setting up of the electronic city. “The government has clearly stated that the local panchayat will have no say in any activities undertaken at the electronic city and all revenue will be collected by the IT department,” Shirodkar said.
He read out a report that appeared in a vernacular newspaper and feared the same fate awaits Chimbel village on the IT Park.
Another villager Tukaram Kunkolkar said there is no clear policy on IT Park and the study of environment impact is also not done.
“Then ITCL chairman Subhash Phaldessai had promised to have a meeting in Chimbel on IT Park but till date no such meeting has been held. Therefore, the panchayat should oppose the project and support the villagers,” he added.
Later, the villagers resolved to demand from the government a white paper on the project which showed every minute details within 15 days failing which the panchayat would seek legal recourse.
Speaking on the issue of retaining Kadamba plateau in GPPDA, Kunkolkar demanded that the entire Chimbel village should be excluded. “Whose interests are being protected by including Kadamba plateau in GPPDA?” Kunkolkar questioned and requested that TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai should use his good office and get Kadamba plateau removed from GPPDA in protecting the interests of Goa and Goans.
The issue of RP21 was also discussed with a villager Brian highlighting why the notified plan is detrimental to
the village.
“The main roads are shown as 15 metres, internal roads as 6-8 metres when the reality is that not even 4 metre roads exist in the village,” Brian pointed out while stating that this is done to favour builders. He also highlighted the lack of basic infrastructure in the village like water and electricity.
“The suggestions of the villagers have not been incorporated in the plan due to which the notified RP21 should be rejected in toto,” the villagers resolved unanimously.
The issue of migrants was also raised with the villagers demanding survey of migrants in the village and also keeping a tab on in-migration as the villagers opined that the local population is getting marginalised in their own land.
“If the trend continues the village, particularly at Indira Nagar, it would spell a doom for the ethnic population,” the villagers pointed out while resolving that all panchas should undertake survey of migrants in Chimbel, details of which should be later shared with the police.
The villagers also demanded a ban on issuing permissions for digging borewells as the ground water table is depleting.
