PANJIM: A day after IT Minister Rohan Khaunte held a detailed discussion with the local bodies in Chimbel on the proposed IT Park in the village, local group Chimbel Manch has asked him to not ‘lie to the people.’
Manch President Govind Shirodkar has slammed the minister for taking selective people for the presentation at Secretariat on Friday stating it was another attempt to force the project on the village.
“All his claims that the IT Park project will not disturb the environment and that it will create local employment is fake. Who is he lying to?” he said addressing a huge gathering on Saturday.
The three-hour long meeting also came down heavily on the local panchayat for ‘suddenly changing its stance’ on the project. “When in the last six gram sabha meetings, the project was vehemently opposed, how did the last meeting in December 2018 approve it? The issue was neither on the gram sabha’s agenda nor was it discussed. It is also surprising how the panchayat body is convinced with the presentation made by the minister on Friday. Why have they changed their stance suddenly,” Shirodkar questioned suspecting ‘money dealings.’
The Chimbel Manch has also countered Khaunte’s statement that the Indira Nagar people are threatened for supporting the government’s initiative. Shirodkar said, the Indira Nagar villagers are misguided in order to set up the IT Park. “Today, in this meeting, the villagers have told us (Chimbel Manch) that they were misguided and instead they support our issue. Our strength opposing the project has increased now,” he said warning of a bigger agitation against the project. Former St Cruz MLA Victoria Fernandes, also present at the meeting extended her support to the anti-IT Park group.
Khaunte’s presentation on the Chimbel Information Technology Park had the presence of St Cruz MLA Tony Fernandes, ZP member and panch members of Chimbel village panchayat wherein environmental concerns were also raised. The issue of employment opportunities for the locals was also discussed, as the government has been claiming that the project would create enough jobs for Goans and the Chimbel youth would be given priority.
