COLVALE: Revolutionary Goans have strongly objected to the Rs 200 crore project planned by the Goa Housing Board comprising of 1,500 units behind the central jail at Colvale.
Stating that this is a very serious issue, the activists have urged the locals to come out to fight for themselves as Colvale is “already suffering from water crisis.”
Time and again the people of Colvale have raised the issue of water shortage in the village. Last year, Colvale gram sabha passed a resolution not to issue any licence to commercial projects till the water crisis was resolved.
Recently, the Goa Housing Board has decided to reserve 30% of its total units for locals in the area including the project comprising of 1,500 units planned at Colvale.
Manoj Parab, a member of Revolutionary Goans, said that Colvale is facing water crisis for the last so many years and that he was curious to know from where the government would provide water for the new project.
“When the government has failed to supply regular water to the villagers who are living here for centuries, how will these new units receive water? In fact, the water problem in Colvale may further worsen. It is high time the people of Colvale unite and come out. Please do not think that someone else will fight for you. The housing board project should not be allowed in any village unless the water and garbage problem is solved,” Parab said.
“It is you and your family who will cry for a drop of water. Not only Colvale but also neighboring villages will have to give up their share of water for these projects. We want 100 % reservation of land to Goans as it is their land,” he added.
When asked MLA Thivim Nilkanth Halarnkar whether this project would affect the existing water issue at Colvale, he said, “There are already five water tanks in the village and the housing board will have its own water tank. The government has to increase the capacity of the water plant at Assonora. They are also setting up a water treatment plant at Guirim. This housing board project is in its initial stage and the panchayat has not given NOC as yet. I myself had urged that 30% of the unit from this project should be given to locals who are staying over 15 years in the village since they are sacrificing their land.”
