MARGAO: The proposed Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) camp at Curtorim’s Leprosy Hospital land continues to be a contentious issue as it remains under the possession of the police department, despite strong objections from villagers.
The Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) clarified that the land, which the Curtorim Biodiversity Management Committee (CBMC) sought to utilise for ecologically sound activities, has already been transferred to the police department for the establishment of an IRB camp.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
This issue initially sparked controversy when the government decided to transfer the abandoned land from the former Leprosy Hospital to the police department for the proposed IRB camp. Villagers objected to this move and advocated for the land to be used for healthcare-related facilities such as a hospital or a medical centre.
Local MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco had also raised his concerns in the Assembly session, opposing the IRB camp’s location on the site of Asia’s first Leprosy Hospital. Consequently, villagers believed that the plans for the IRB camp had been abandoned by the government.
However, the recent communication from GSBB has reignited concerns among Curtorim residents who remain steadfast in their opposition to the establishment of an IRB camp at the Leprosy Hospital complex.
Simon Barretto, former Deputy Sarpanch of the Curtorim village panchayat, emphasised that the villagers have consistently called for the land to be utilised for a public utility project focused on healthcare and medicine. The panchayat has adopted resolutions opposing the IRB camp on numerous occasions, he added.
While the situation appeared to have settled, the revelation that the land remains with the police department has reignited fears among Curtorim villagers. In response to the demands of the villagers, the panchayat plans to write to the Director of Health, requesting a portion of the leprosy hospital land for the establishment of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) shed. Sarpanch Caetano Hilario said the resolution was taken during the last gram sabha.
