Multiple choice stalls Chinchinim development for 15 years now

CUNCOLIM: Prospective development on Chinchinim’s trophy land of 10,000 sq mts is mired in multiple choices and difference of political interest for 15 years since possession. 

In 2006, Chinchinim Village Panchayat had acquired the land close to Chinchinim Church to construct Market Complex cum panchayat ghar project. The dormant idea started creating ripples after five years in 2011, when panchayat body with the help of local MLA proposed a detail plan for the project. Gram sabha too gave green signal to the revenue generating project. State governments also approved the project and decided to complete the Market Complex cum Panchayat ghar project under Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC). 

Project was in stage of tendering but some locals and political leaders objected the proposed project saying they want a Sports Complex instead, in that land. A decade past the acquired land still lay blank waiting for this tussle to settle in either of the parties’ favour. These two ideas have split villagers in two groups.

This is apparent that some politicians and social workers do not want this issue to resolve. The perceived ego fight between politicians has soared the estimated project cost from Rs six crore at the time of inception to Rs 18 crores at present.

The present panchayat body tried to find out a solution to the ongoing controversy by planning a new project with some additions and deletions in the proposed projects. A new proposal, which panchayat coined and drafted, has panchayat ghar, multipurpose complex with an indoor stadium, swimming pool, gymnasium and other facilities for senior citizens and common people. 

Dy Sarpanch Valentino Barreto told Herald that they don’t want to look back on whatever has gone. “We need development and we need good panchayat ghar along with other facilities. Depending on people’s expectations we have proposed a panchayat ghar and multipurpose complex project and need government approval and financial help to make things possible.” 

Herald tried to find out the present status of the project and also tried to find if locals are happy with the fresh proposal. However, locals are still divided between sports complex and market complex and as the Assembly Elections approaching the issue will re-emerge in people’s mandate. Locals are experiencing the same thing, with no results for the past one and half decade. After elections people and politicians forget what they want.

In 2016 Velim BJP MLA Filip Neri Rodrigues had raised this issue in Assembly, when he was in Congress. The then CM had told the State Assembly that “there is no clarity on the proposed market complex of Chinchinim Hence the State government had put that proposal on hold.” 

It’s apparent that Chinchinim needs a good market as it doesn’t have one and vendors sell everything sitting at the roadside.

Michael Bany Da Costa, President of Chinchinim Citizens Committee, who is supporting market complex cum panchayat ghar said the market complex would be a revenue generating project and will help panchayat to be self-sustainable while a sports complex would be a white elephant and panchayat will not able to maintain it.

Those supporting sports complex and multipurpose complex list out various advantages in their proposal. They claim that panchayat can build small market at WRD acquired land and Chinchinim being a sports loving village sports complex will benefit youth to excel in sports activity and also keep the citizens fit. One senior citizen of village on anonymity told Herald that “village will never develop because no one is concerned about the development.” “Politicians and local leaders do not want this long-pending issue to be resolved. During elections they are putting locals against each other for selfish gain. Why can’t the present MLA who is in the ruling take the initiative and resolve it,” said the senior citizen.

Common people ask why the authorities cannot have the entire project at the acquired place. “Small market complex, nice panchayat ghar and beautiful indoor stadium can resolve this fifteen-year old problem but it needs guts, good heart and mind to solve it once for all. Will our politicians, local leaders come forward for the benefit of Chinchonkars?” ask people.