PANJIM: Rubbishing reports of opposition to the proposed Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) at Tuem, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Thursday announced that the Central Government has granted ‘in-principle’ approval to Rs 150 crore green field projects, which will be a hub to promote investment in Information Technology (IT).
Addressing media persons, Parsekar said the Union Ministry for Electronics and Information Technology has granted its in-principle approval to the project and would provide Rs 50 crore as grants.
“The master plan of the EMC will be ready in next three months,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the IT department has already finalised the consultant for the project and the work order for drafting the master plan would be issued next week.
Asked about opposition from locals to both EMC and IT park at Chimbel, Parsekar said, “There is no opposition but only anxiety amongst the locals.”
“As far as I know, there is no opposition to the projects. People have anxiety as to whether they will get employment, what are the benefits to the locals, etc. Once the master plan is ready, the government will be in better position to explain to the locals about its benefits,” the Chief Minister said.
The IT Park, Chimbel, will be spread across three lakh sq metres while the electronic cluster at Tuem will be accommodated in five lakh sq mtrs. The land at Chimbel, which was initially in possession of the Health Department, has been transferred to IT. “The work at both sites has begun,” Parsekar said.
Tuem farmers have alleged that their land has been illegally grabbed for the project. In Chimbel, the panchayat recently resolved not to allow any government project in the village.
