Does the government really care about its people on the ground? Or is it all about profits before people?
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Oxel-Siolim-meet-opposes-Chapora-tourism-project/articleshow/52391916.cms
The village panchayat of Oxel-Siolim has strongly opposed the new multi-purpose project along River Chapora and called on chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar to rethink the project. The 1,000 crore project includes a marina, ferry terminal, tourist village, museum and aquarium project. Sources said that the chief minister had recently held a meeting with the eight gram panchayats concerned to discuss the project. The Oxel panchayat claimed that the project will spell doom for local fishermen.
The Oxel panchayat body claimed that the Chapora river development project will include a marina and ferry terminal costing 100 crore, a tourist village and fisherman’s wharf costing 100 crore, the museum and hotel complex costing another estimated 200 crore, the aquarium, sea world and bird park costing 300 crore, adventure sports island costing 100 crore and water transport service utilities and cable car costing 200 crore.
The project has been developed under the Chapora river development committee. Panchayat claimed that the chief minister has convened a meeting with the panchayats of Agarwada, Oxel, Marna , Morjim, Parsem, Tuem and Camurlim to discuss the project.
“The project will have worse effects than casinos. The coastal belt of Pernem will be blocked by the project,” Oxel sarpanch Raju Parab said.
Parab who is supported by his panch members said that the project stretching from Morjim to Colvale along River Chapora is portrayed as a 1,000 crore project but in reality it is more than that to facilitate business for outsiders.
“The project is coming in the locals’ area, the project land belongs to locals and there is no need of job opportunities for locals along the belt as fishing activity is enough for them,” Parab said.