Activists and environmentalists may be up in their arms against the eco-tourism project proposed in Chapora, but the project appears to be gathering support from various quarters. The Rs 1,000 crore eco-friendly development project has the backing of the land owners, locals and the panchayats of Tuem and Parsem.
From the time, the government announced the project earlier this year, there has been opposition to it. However, the resentment is said to be because the government has failed to take the stakeholders into confidence.
When Herald visited the site of the projects and spoke to the land owners, who have been assured of becoming partners in the project, there appeared to be a very positive approach towards it. “We have no objection to this project unless it causes disturbance to the eco-system,” said Sairaj Kojvuenkar one of the land owners from Tuem.
He added that his portion of the land, which is going to be taken for the project; will have a bird sanctuary and an aquarium. “Government authorities have assured that there will be no eco-destruction in the area, none that will affect the local and the environment. This project will also create employment and this place will get developed,” he said.
Rajesh Pankar, another local said, “We have been given details of the project at the panchayat meeting. The land which we own is marshy on which nothing can be cultivated. This project will not only help develop this location, it will also create job opportunities for the unemployed.”
He added, “Government should conduct an awareness campaign and give details of this project to all stakeholders so that exact information is conveyed.”
Parsem sarpanch Gopal Bhisaji said, “The main reason why we are supporting this project is because it will create employment for the youth, which is very important. Government cannot provide employment to all the people and that’s why these kinds of projects are needed.”
“Also there are many fields lying unused for many years and there’s no harm in giving these for development. This project will also create revenue for the panchayat,” he says.
Former ZP member Deepak Kalangutkar said, “It’s a project aimed at employment. All the people, who will lose their land in this project, have been assured that they will be engaged in the joint venture. This project will go forward with the consent of those people who will lose their land and of the other locals.”
The land owners also said, “The government has made it clear that the kind of activities that will come up on the land will be suitable to the area and location, which won’t harm the locals and the environment.”
