The Rahejas have decided on their own to fulfill, in part, their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by spending in crores of rupees for the development of the Village of Carmona (Herald, Sept 9) through the implementation of various socio-developmental projects. They say that they are sincerely doing this, even to the point of spending Rs 4 crores and above, because they are already there in the village of Carmona as its concerned citizens.
What is objectionable, however, is the contentious insistence by the Rahejas that the villagers of Carmona cooperate with them in allowing them to build their Residential Housing Project. As otherwise, they say they will be forced to re-think about their intention to fulfill their CSR, in case they are forced to knock the doors of the court to order the village panchayat to issue licence, if at all it is denied.
What the Carmona villagers are concerned about is how their tiny village is going to be affected by problems once the residential project goes into full operation, and then, how to cope with all such problems. Real problems, known to one and all concerned in almost every Goan village, need not be listed here for want of space. The multi-dollar question is whether the Rahejas are really as much concerned as the villagers even as they claim? If so, the Rahejas should give up their plans to have concrete jungles in the village of Carmona and, instead, utilize their massive land in Carmona by having eco-friendly as well as people-friendly projects that are of common interest and benefit.
In the meantime, Rahejas CRS mega-offer to Carmona village should be looked upon as lollipops dangled before the eyes of the unwary villagers in Carmona so as to divert their attention from the harm that will be done to their Village once mega housing projects if not concrete jungles come up in their tiny but beautiful village.
So, the concerned citizens of Carmona, beware of Raheja’s mega-offer of tempting mouth-watering lollilops. You might as well find you’ve swallowed sweet but slow-killing poison in the long run.
