Team Herald
TIVIM: To preserve Tivim’s ecosystem, the jam-packed gram sabha on Sunday outrightly rejected the proposal of a Pune-based private university or peace university project citing concerns over resource strain.
Stating that the project had earlier been approved by the Tivim Comunidade for a 99-year lease period, the villagers vehemently opposed the project and threatened to hit the streets if the government goes ahead with the project.
Sarpanch Venkatesh Shirodkar read out the agenda.
Former Tivim panch member Robert Colaco strongly objected to any university coming up in the village in such a massive area. He said that the project will be a burden the village resources.
Colaco said, “At present the village is struggling to cater to the basic needs of people and dumping such a huge project here will take its toll on the village infrastructure. It is very easy for the government to approve such projects without verifying the ground reality.”
Colaco said, “The project will also disturb the peace and tranquillity of the village. The flora and fauna will be destroyed as several rain trees will be felled and wild animals will be displaced. Cansa, a quiet place, where proposed project is supposed to come up lose its charm.
The villagers reiterated that Tivim will not be able to handle the situation if this project is allowed.
A villager said that allotting two lakh sqms for such university would mean depriving Tivim locals of a roof over their head as they will not be able to construct a dwelling home for themselves.
Opposing the project tooth and nail former AAP chief Rahul Mahambre accused the government of imposing mega projects on the people against their wishes and warned the authorities not to play with the sentiments of the locals by taking them for granted.
The villagers requested the panchayat to exercise its powers and act in the interest of the village.
The Sarpanch said that the panchayat would always stand by the people on the issue and if need be, will take legal recourse.