PERNEM: Like-minded people from Pernem including advocates, social workers, teachers and other prominent people on Thursday held a meeting under the banner of ‘Casino Hatao, Pedne Bachao’ raising objection to the casino project, which is part of the entertainment city, proposed at Sukekolan of Dhargal village.
During this meeting, the forum decided that they will not allow any project in Pernem which will include a casino.
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Social Worker Advocate Jitendra Gaonkar said, “Even before this project could come up, the ill effects are visible in the taluka. Robberies, thefts and murders have started happening in remote villages of Pernem. Safety of women has become an issue of concern and it’s high time that we take measures to stop this project”.
Members of the forum alleged that several sugarcane plantations in the Dhargal locality were set on fire while the two metre road was expanded to seven metres for this project and with this project coming up in Pernem, people from other States will come and settle down in Pernem and will destroy the image of the village.
Bharat Bagkar, a teacher and member of Pernem Citizen Forum said, “There is no point of raising objections after the project is completed. Before this project could start, we have to put a stop. People have to stand united and raise their objection otherwise this project will destroy the culture”.
Members of the forum also claimed that politicians, who will benefit from such projects, are not bothered about the common man. “The government has already acquired 80 lakh sq mts land for the airport and now around one and a half lakh for the road. More land will be sold to the companies if such casino projects come up in the village, which the locals need to take note of”, the members said.
People raising the objection pointed out that they are not against any elected representative or government but the governance which is showing the wrong direction to the people with such projects.
