PERNEM: The young and proactive residents of Pernem have issued a passionate appeal to the Pednekars, urging them to wake up and raise their voices against the proposed Theme park project planned on their picturesque hills, covering an area of approximately 97 lakh square metres. The youths have levelled serious allegations against the government, accusing it of orchestrating a land scam under the deceptive banner of development while endangering the integrity of Pernem taluka.
“This issue has been discussed in Assembly sessions, and it’s reminiscent of past instances where the government dangled the carrot of development, only to leave the people suffering. Pernem has already witnessed a spree of development, with the airport, casino project at Dhargal, and now this theme park. This project has been rejected in two other locations, yet the government is determined to bring it to Pernem. It’s nothing but another land scam,” said one of the youth, Shiva.
The focus of scrutiny is Bramha Corp, a company formed in December 2022, which swiftly presented the proposal for the theme park in January 2023. To the dismay of the locals, the project obtained immediate approval from the Investment Promotion Board, leaving no room for the municipality and panchayat to have any say in the matter.
Residents are particularly aggrieved by the lack of transparency and public involvement, as the project gained approval without consulting the locals through gram sabha or municipal meetings. This has led to frustration among the community, who say they lack essential amenities.
Adding to the controversy, the proposed theme park would encroach upon a 97 lakh square metre agricultural buffer zone, where a waste plant currently exists. The locals suspect that the government plans to dismantle the plant to pave the way for the theme park, sparking further protests.
“While the government has touted eco-friendly materials and replicas of iconic monuments, such as the Taj Mahal, this is just another means of concretising our natural landscapes. The well-being and heritage of Pednekars will be sacrificed in the name of so-called development,” said another youth, Pradeep.
