A decade has passed since Chinchinim began its struggle to know whether it will be a market complex cum panchayat ghar or sports complex that will be set up in Chinchinim on land acquired by the government.
The panchayat, with help of Revenue Department, had acquired over 10,000 sq mts of agricultural land in 2005. In 2011 the panchayat passed a resolution to construct a market complex as it badly required a well equipped market and panchayat ghar. GSIDC was supposed to undertake the construction and it had received the government nod. The project was in the tendering stage, when objections from locals and some politicians put it into cold storage.
The current Panchayat body is in favor of a market complex but the MLA and his supporters differ from this view. One group wants a sports complex arguing that the land is not suitable for a market. The group is of the opinion that the present panchayat ghar is enough for the villagers, and that a market can be built at another place.
Supporters of a sports complex say land was acquired without proper planning and since it is agricultural land it can only be used for sports.
Those supporting a market complex cum panchayat ghar say that the land was acquired for this purpose and according to the rules land acquired for a particular purpose should be used for that purpose only.
The group argues that it is a waste of money and assets to use the land for a sports complex. The group alleges that some villagers are opposing the market complex only because of personal benefit. Villagers ask that since the gram sabha has voted in favour of a market, and when the panchayat is in favour of a market, why is the government hesitating to go ahead with complex.
There has also been opposition on environmental grounds and suggestions that the acquired land should be kept as open space.
Sarpanch Santos Rebello said “Village panchayat will do what villagers want. We are with the villagers. If the villagers want a market complex we will go ahead with the locals wish. We can’t go by the leader’s wish, it’s the villagers wish that counts.”
Local MLA Benjamin Silva said, “I don’t wish to politicise the issue. Let the panchayat and village decide what they want.”
