PERNEM: The calls for scrapping of Rs 1000 cr eco-tourism project in river Chapora grew louder with the activists and politicians lending their support to the movement of locals and fishing community.
At a meeting held at Chopdem, activists and politicians demanded that the project be scrapped immediately as it will harm the locals and the fishing community.
This meeting was held to create awareness amongst the people about the Chapora River project.
The meeting was attended by Babi Bagkar, Devendra Prabhudesai, Dayanand Sopte, Sangita Parab, Sachin Parab, Rajan Satelkar, Anand Shirgaonkar, Rohidas Arolkar, Gurudas Pande, Amol Raut, Chandrakant Chodankar, and Abhijit Dhargalkar among others.
The President of Pernem Swabhiwani Organisation, Devendra Prabhudesai, said, “This project will have a bad effect on this land and village. After giving this land into outsiders’ hands, the livelihood of fishermen will be at stake.”
He also said “the Government has first to explain to the people what the project will all be about and provide right and proper information of this project to the locals.”
Congress vice-president Babi Bagkar said, “In the name of Chapora project, the government is putting the river and the Arabian sea into trouble. In the name of development the government is wasting people’s money. Just to repair 1 km road, they are spending Rs 1 crore. This is how they are trying to get funds for the election campaign.”
Bagkar said the project will not benefit the locals as it is tailor-made for outsiders to come here and set up business in Goa.
Dayanand Sopte, former MLA, said, “Why is the government coming up with a Rs1000 crore project without giving proper information to the people? Can the chief minister show any project to decrease the unemployment in the taluka? Who is going to benefit from the Chapora project?”
Another speaker Sachin Parab said in the name of development, CM Laxmikant Parsekar is trying to destroy the Mandrem Constituency.
Shiv Sena leader Anand Shirgaonkar said, “If the Government tries to force the project on the people of Mandrem and Pernem taluka, we will teach them a lesson in six months time.”
Chandrakant Chodankar said, “The livelihood of Goans is into the rivers. If rivers disappear then how they will get fish and how will they survive? If this upcoming eco-friendly tourism project on Chapora River is not for the benefit and instead is going to harm the local people then it has to be stopped,” he added.
