CANSAULIM: Hardening their stand against the proposed third hotel project in the jurisdiction of Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim (CAC) Village Panchayat, a group of 50 odd villagers from Arossim ward on Saturday said, they will hold one day hunger strike, when the State will celebrate Liberation Day on December 19, 2021.
Speaking to Herald, environmental activists and CAC Civic and Consumer Forum member Anthony D’Silva claimed that the villagers are not opposed to development, provided the same should not damage environment and ecology in the village.
“We are today fed-up with the way authorities in Goa have been supporting the corporates lobby and are refusing to hear our grievances. We only want that authorities should not clear projects, like the starred hotel project, as we don’t have required infrastructure in place to take load of such projects. Now since all our appeal have fallen in deaf ears and as destruction continues, we have decided to hold hunger strike on Goa Liberation Day,” D’Silva said
Jose Fernandes from Arossim alleged that the existing starred hotels are already polluting the environment by releasing sewage in village water bodies, and the site where this third starred hotel is being planned, was a biodiversity hotspot and in a low-lying area and hence they have been opposing this project since 2006.
“People Might label us as antidevelopment crusaders but we know we are opposing only those things that would destroy the identity of the village, besides peace. This plot where this third hotel project is coming up is actually a field where people used to cultivate crops in past. Also, this property falls in the category of low lying area with two major natural storm water drains of our village passing the property, but the project proponent says there are no such drains in their property. They are even trying to block these natural drains by constructing compound wall. Surprisingly the authorities concerned also supports them, and are refusing to consider factual ground reality,” Fernandes alleged.
Villagers also alleged that the government officers are allowing corporates to convert village fields into development zone, despite complaints by the villagers and hence they are forced to take decision of hunger strike on Liberation Day so that government will listen to their grievances.
“We have been opposing hotel projects in our village because currently we are not getting proper water and electricity supply and the garbage menace has also been increasing. Now to add to our worry third hotel in low lying area is coming up. This plot was initially a field where people used to grow different crops and vegetables. During rains this plot acts as water catchment area as both the major drains merge in this filed. Now if they construct compound wall around the hotel project then this will block the drains and we fear that during rains village would witness flood like situation. Surprisingly officers who came for inspection of this site feel our claims are false. Since no one is ready to hear us we have decided to hold hunger strike near hotel gate and all project affected people and other concerned villagers including senior citizens, will take part,” Fernandes said.
