Goa is facing various issues related to projects and other issues. The main project objected to by the villagers of Chimbel is Unity Mall. The villagers are demanding the scrapping of the project, which they say will destroy the village and the natural lake there. The villagers are dependent on local agricultural produce and this is their only livelihood.
On the other hand, the government is saying that Unity Mall will generate employment for locals. The villagers raised questions about Mopa airport and how many locals got jobs in spite of giving their land for development.
The villagers are not happy with the way the project was given permission by the local authorities without taking them into confidence. On the other hand, we have a Formula 4 race shifted to the Mopa airport area, and again, the question raised is what is there for locals. The event was stopped by Mormugao locals and objected to, which is now shifted to Mopa in February.
Meanwhile, Tuem locals are demanding the opening of a hospital which was built a few years ago and is in an unused state. Now the health minister has assured to inaugurate it and the government has moved to link it with the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC). Pernem locals had to depend on GMC for medical emergencies. Now that the Tuem hospital is linked with the GMC, more locals will get jobs in the medical field and the administration side.
On the other hand, projects like Formula racing and Unity Mall are facing objections and demands by locals. The government should decide if it is really worth spending on events and projects which are not beneficial to locals, and instead concentrate on what the State and its people really need.
