Vaxim Association ups ante against mega project
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
OLD GOA, NOV 7
Upping the ante against the proposed project at Vanxim, Ilhas De Vaxim Association has stated that at no cost the islanders would allow the same to come up on the island.
The meeting was convened at Vanxim Island on Sunday evening by Ilhas De Vaxim Association, which was attended by NGOs, which included Goa Bachao Abhiyan, Pilerne Citizens Forum, Village Groups of Goa and others and the local residents.
Speaking at the meeting, Association President Margaret Silveira said: “We are all together here to fight against this mega project and we will see that the project is stopped, as no one can take Vanxim Island from the islanders.”
In his speech, Fr Bismark Fernandes stated: “The cry of the earth is the cry of the poor and the church has done injustice to humanity by selling the land, which was against human conscious. Whatever is happening in Vanxim is a disaster, as our earth is our mother and some of our own people are trying to destroy it.”
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference at the Old Goa Tourism Residency, Mahendra P Gaunekar, who claimed that he bought three-fourth of the Vanxim Island, told media persons that he was the owner of a part of the island.
“I have tied up with a company dealing in development of leisure and water sports activities for the purpose of encouraging tourism and employment,” stated Gaunekar.
“I have done such thing to make the locals of Vanxim Island stakeholders in any proposed economic activity, given the fact that agriculture had become totally unviable as saline water had made its way landwards,” said Gaunekar.
“Therefore, the island which is in desperate need of some basic infrastructure including some measures to protect it from continuous erosion, water sports activities or any other tourism-related recreational facilities are planned after taking into confidence the local residents,” added Gaunekar.
