Victory for Kudchirem as MLA says C&D waste project will be scrapped

Team Herald

BICHOLIM: Mayem BJP MLA PremendraShet on Wednesday said that the Government has decided to scrap the construction and demolition debris waste treatment plant at Kudchirem.

“The decision to scrap it has been taken in consultation with Chief Minister PramodSawant considering the stiff opposition from the villagers,” said Shet.

It may be recalled that on Sunday, the villagers of Kudchirem had taken out a morcha and then prayed to their deity and Jagekar Barajandev to save their village from setting up the construction and demolition (C&D) waste plant here.

“Two months ago, the government officials had carried out a survey and demarcation of the land despite resistance by the villagers. Also opposition tried to politicise the issue and misguided the villager by claiming that it solid waste treatment plant when actually it was C&D waste plant. I am with the Kudchirem villagers and the Chief Minister will take appropriate decision in this regard considering the feelings of the people,” Shet said.

Maulinguem-Kudchirem sarpanch Priyavada Gaonkar said that the gram sabha had already passed a resolution demanding to scrap the C&D waste plant in the village and thanked the government for its decision not to go ahead with the project. The villagers had also apprehended that the proposed project will destroy the identity and ecology of the village.

The State government had acquired 45,000 square metres of land at Barazan, Kudchirem to set up C&D waste plant.

North Goa ZillaPanchayat (ZP) Adhyaksh Shankar Chodankar, panchayat members and villagers were present for the press briefing.

Meanwhile, the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar said, “People of Kudchirem have shown the BJP government what true strength looks like. Their unwavering opposition to the disastrous waste treatment plant has forced the dictatorial BJP got to backtrack. This is a massive victory for the people, and a clear defeat for BJP’s dadagiri. This defeat marks the beginning of the end for BJP in Goa and in 2027 polls will see them out of power.”

Goa Forward Party general secretary Santosh Kumar Sawantsaid that the government is taking Mayemconstituency for granted. Mayem is notdharmshala and people will not oppose good projects like the international cricket stadium.