CHAPORA: NEW THEATRE OF STATE SPONSORED ECO DESTRUCTION

Chapora is the latest theatre of destruction where the script being played out is the same. A myriad projects have been planned on a scale which is completely at odds with the fragile sensitivity of the area. And each of the projects seem to include spending crores to showcase what Goa naturally has i.e village life and natural beauty.

Locals of Chapora, Siolim, Agarwada, Tuem, Morjim and Parsem are up in arms over the proposed Rs 1000 crore eco-tourism project of the government of Goa near Chapora River. 

The project is undertaken on a PPP basis by the Department of River Navigation.

This project will include ferry terminals, a tourist village, museum, marinas, fisherman's wharf, hotels, an under water aquarium, sea world, a bird park, an adventure sports island, a tree top hotel, hotel complex, an exhibition centre, tented accommodation and cable cars.

The detailed proposed project states that it will include the development of seven locations along the river front which will start from the mouth of Chapora and end at Colvale bridge, covering a distance of around 13.1 km.

The locals have united under the banner of Pernem Swabhimani, which is led by Devendra Prabhudesai, which is opposing the project tooth and nail.

Prabhudesai says that there is no clarity on the Rs 1000 cr project as the locals are simply not taken into confidence.

"We have started an awareness campaign regarding the upcoming eco-tourism project, which the local people were unaware of. The government came up with the project not taking into consideration the views of the local people,” he said. 

He added the project won’t benefit the locals in any way but will affect the people directly. “Their land, businesses, the economy source and the cultural life style of the people will get affected directly,” he said.

He added, “If development has to take place, then they should see whether this kind of development is really needed or not. Will this project really generate employment or not and how? If it was only a Government project, then it might have benefited the local people somewhere or the other but this project is given in the hands of private people and they will make sure that they make a profit from it for themselves without bothering about the locals.”

According to information received, around 75,732 sqmt of Agarwada village, 89405 sqmt of Tuem village, 19380 sqmt of Morjim village & 26680 sqmt of Parsem village will be directly getting affected. 

Prabhudesai said that the project is showing 1500 direct employment which needs to be explained by the authorities whether such skills of running eco-friendly tourist business is really available with the local people or not. 

“Or is this going to be another unit which brings labour and workers from outside Goa? The promoters of this business will bring labour from outside the state which will harm the local population as well as their businesses,” he says.

Babi Bagkar, Congress office-bearer said that the people of Pernem are not against development. “Tourism and trade must grow, but while taking any decision on eco-tourism, local people and the local panchayat should be taken into confidence,” he added. 

“There are no tourist facilities of any kind along the Chapora coast since the last 52 years. The government should provide changing rooms, toilets, bathrooms and parking facilities at the coast. The government is trying to bring eco-tourism only to benefit some people,” alleged Bagkar. 

Agarwada Sarpanch Shashikala Damaji said, "A proper meeting will be held on June 13 wherein discussions will be had on this project because most of the people residing at the coastal belt of Agarwada are getting affected.”

She also said that if the people are not ready, then they might oppose this project. President of Fisherman Community of Morjim, Bhim Raghvir Pednekar said the project will directly affect small-time fishermen.

“The proposal for the project (jetty at Morjim) was made by trawler owners but if you see, in reality the project will affect fishermen who still do their business with canoes,” he said.

"The development project of 1000 crores should have been made by taking into consideration the views of the local people. Fishermen are the people who will get affected leading them to shut their businesses after the implementation of this project,” he said. 

Pednekar also suggested that the people supporting this project should come and see how the fishing is done and what are the difficulties faced by them because compared to the previous time the amount of business has really gone down.

“The livelihood of 600 boats is dependent on this business and if this gets shut, how will they survive,” he questioned.

Sources in the government, however state, this project will preserve the traditional fishing business. 

“No harm will be done to the environment since no trees will be cut. Locals won’t be facing any environmental issues nor will any of their local business get affected. Slow boats will be used so that the existing fishing business won’t be harmed,” an officer said under the condition of anonymity.

Sources also said that this project will also provide employment to the locals in hospitality, water sports and all the other sections after the completion of this project.

With the shocking experience of Tiracol where bulldozers moved in and trees were felled without permission for the golf and villa project, the government’s motives will be in severe doubt unless comprehensively proven otherwise.