Team Herald
CALANGUTE: Residents of Gaurawado, Calangute along with social forums and Shri Shantadurga Devasthan on Monday objected to setting up of pumping station on the devasthan land and demanded that the government shift the project to a non-residential area.
The residents, members of Calangute Constituency Forum and Shri Shantadurga Devasthan Nanora held an awareness meeting on the project at Gaurawado wherein
they unanimously objected to setting of the pumping station in the residential area.
Shri Shantadurga Devasthan Committee members claimed that the land was acquired despite filing objections.
Devasthan committee secretary Vishwas Gad said, “Despite of filing objection this land is acquired for the said project. We had given declaration to former CM late Parrikar that there is alternate land in Calangute which they can use. The declaration was accepted the former CM and we received letter from a company that they are shifting the plant. An affidavit was also given to this company despite this they started the work”.
“If they don’t want to shift to that alternate land then they should go for comunidade land since this project is required for Calangute. Now, the plant work has commenced without carrying out demarcation. We have submitted representation to different authorities including Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant but till date no action is taken”, Gad claimed.
“Since the last seven years the project was lying idle. This is a residential as well as Devasthan area and pumping waste of entire Calangute on devasthan land cannot be allowed. If the government wants to set up plant then they can acquire comunidade land”, another resident said.
Domingo Fernandes, a local said, “This is a residential area and pumping sewage of entire Calangute at this place will not be allowed. Last time when we had raised this issue, the Calangute MLA had assured us that he would take us to CM but till date it has not happened.”
Another resident Shubhangi Sawant said, “Pumping station on this land is a wrong decision since it is a devasthan land. If this project comes up here, it will hurt the sanctity of place. There is alternate land which we have provided and do not have any objection for setting up the plant there. If this plant comes up here then it will affect the residents’ health”
“MLA had assured that the waste treatment plant at Saligao will not stink but today that project is stinking”, locals complained.
Premanand Diukar, President of Calangute Constituency Forum said, “This project commenced in 2012 and was scheduled to be ready by 2015. There is no feasibility for the pipeline installed. Maximum sewage is generated from hotels. People will have to vacate the area since this project has technical issues such as there are chances that the pump may fail and the pipelines may get choked. Already all the chambers installed are collapsing and the pipelines are filled. There are chances that this system will overflow and if this project fails then all the tourism in the coastal belt will collapse”, Diukar warned.
