MARGAO: The representatives and the people of Curtorim on Tuesday requested the State government to cancel the plan of having the Indian Reserve Battalion barracks (IRB) or they will launch an agitation along with the Curtorim villagers.
Some officials have recently begun a survey of the land which once housed the leprosy hospital. In recent years the two remaining patients were shifted to a hospital in Margao and the old hospital has now been abandoned. The people of the locality and the public representatives including the Sarpanch, Panches and the Zilla Parishad Member of Curtorim are not happy with the manner in which the Government is pushing the IRB Barracks project in the village.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Sarpanch of Curtorim Milagres Rodrigues, ZP of Curtorim Michelle Rebello, Panches Vinny and Simon and Moreno Rebello visited the site.
Sarpanch Milagres said “This is a place very nice and important for Curtorim villagers. Our ward panchafs have been fighting for a project which will benefit the locals. There was a plan for AYUSH Hospital but they changed the plan and decided to have IRB barracks. When Panchayat applied for Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in this land we were denied” complained Milagres. Sarpanch has strongly demanded a project which will benefit the people and nothing that is against the will of Curtorim.
The Panch Member Vinny Fernandes has complained that the Village Panchayat was not taken in confidence while planning for the IRB project. “We are opposed to the present plan,” she said.
Simon Baretto said “This was given to land Health Department by the family who owned it. This land has to be protected. AYUSH hospital could have been brought here, Covid19 hospital could have been brought but why barracks?” asked Simon while complaining that the Government denied land for the MRF facility.
Moreno Rebello, former Zilla Panchayat member of Curtorim said that it is the duty of the government to consult the elected members who represent the people who elect the Government. “This place has to be used for the betterment of the people of Curtorim,” she requested.
Rebello has made a strong demand to the Home Minister who is the Chief Minister to change the decision. “Macasana, Curtorim and Sao Jose de Areal people should get the benefit of this land.
Moreno warned that if the government doesn’t change its decision there will be a big agitation. “We will see that this place is utilized for the betterment of the people because so many other places can be used for the barracks,” he reiterated.
