PERNEM: A meeting organised by Goencho Avaaz at Pernem raised voices against casinos in Pernem. Hundreds of people from different parts of the taluka attended.
During the meet, socials activists Captain Viriato Fernandes, Swapnesh Sherlekar, Subhash Kerkar, Appa Teli and others spoke on how casinos will affect the future of the youth and exposed its ill effects on people in general.
Apa Teli, former DySP, said, “All the common people of Pernem should come together to fight against the casinos. We may belong to any party but to save Pernem from casinos, prostitution and drugs everyone should come together while keeping our party interests aside. The youth should come forward and take a strong stand over this issue.
“The government is assuring to generate employment through the Mopa airport project but along with this indirectly it is trying to get the dirt of Panjim in Pernem which will also bring along all the illegal activities like prostitution and drugs. People have to decide whether they are going to allow casinos in Pernem or not,” Teli added.
Social activist Captain Viriato Fernandes stressed upon the land in Pernem which is converted into settlements zones.”Initially, tourism in Goa was where tourists from all over used to visit to see the beauty of Goa the beaches, temples, churches and more. However, the tourism in Goa has now changed. Once casinos come to Pernem, prostitution and drugs will be uncontrollable,” Fernandes said.
“In Dhargal around 40,000 sq mt land is converted into settlement zone. Similarly in Pernem around 86,700 sqmt land is converted into settlement zone and behind the back in the name of projects like football academy and others, casino projects will also come into Pernem,” Fernandes added.
“Ministers are now planning to make gambling legal, later they will make prostitution legal. Youth will get involved in drugs and their future will be destroyed. It’s high time that people wake up and take independent decision and stand against casinos. A 5km sq mt of land in radius of Mopa airport will be acquired under the PDA which will take away rights of the panchayats. People need to think whether they want to give away their panchayat rights or not,” said Subhash Kerkar of Congress.
Meanwhile, it was also resolved in the meeting that a master plan for tourism is to be adopted by the panchayat and people. It was also resolved to oppose urbanisation of four villages Parcem, Arambol, Mandrem and Morjim and also oppose mega project on hilltops of villages.
