Kundaim gram sabha opposes dockyard

Kundaim gram sabha opposes dockyard
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
MARCEL, OCT 10
The Kundaim gram sabha on Sunday witnessed noisy scenes over the issue of proposed water vessel repair project at Mazowado.
However, with mounting pressure from the villagers, all the seven panchyat members declared their opposition to the project.
Largely, the gram sabha passed off peaceful except for the issue of proposed dock at Mazowado. There were heated arguments between the villagers, who were opposing the project, and some who were in favour of it.
Though the panch members did not declare their support to the project, but villagers felt otherwise. Villagers claimed that some panch members were in support of the project and are working in that direction.
According to information, the project file was rejected by the panchayat when it had come for the approval, citing opposition from ward villagers.
“We wrote a letter to the party informing them of the decision of the panchayat on April 28, 2010, as villagers in the area had raised strong objection to it,” informed Panchayat Secretary Kapil Naik.
But villagers felt that the panchayat was trying to bring the project, as recently panchayat received more signatory favouring the project.
“I don’t understand when in April the panchayat had rejected the proposal. There was no need for a meeting with the project officials. I don’t know why the sarpanch and few panch members felt the need to call the officials of the proposed project,” said Kundaim Nagrik Kruti Sammitti President Ritesh Narvenkar.
“It looks that they (sarpanch and few panch members) want this project and are helping to garner support. May be that it is how there were numerous signatories favouring the project,” said Narvenkar.
However, Sarpanch Gopi Naik defended saying: “We don’t have any interest in this project, but had called the people related to the project to inform them of the opposition. The local panch was also called to discuss the issue.”
However, this did not satisfy the villagers, who felt that the issue should have been discussed at the gram sabha and not the way it was pursued by the panchayat.
Villagers claimed that if the project was allowed, then the entire village will suffer and urged the people not to support such kind of project.
“First, our village has narrow roads and once the project is completed, heavy vehicles will move and we will have tough time,” said a villager.
Adds another villager: “Forget jobs to our village people, they will employ migrants. There is already an influx of migrant population employed in Kundaim Industrial Estate. Many a times migrant population has created problem in our village. We don’t want this project.”
Says another villager: “Our houses are in proximity to the project and this will surely disturb our peace. We will be gifted with sleepless nights and for this reason, we must not allow this project.”
Later, a resolution was passed and situation at the meeting forced panch members to declare their opposition to the project.
The gram sabha also passed a resolution to gather information on the number of unemployed youth in the village along with their qualification.
According to villagers, once they have such information it will enable them to approach the industries located within Kundaim panchayat jurisdiction to avail jobs for the unemployed.