PERNEM: For any project to materialise there needs to be a better connectivity. But the sad reality is that the ambitious Tuem Electronic City lacks major road connectivity.
Since the project is located in a remote area, rather spread across the forest, it requires direct road connectivity from the National Highway for movement of heavy vehicles. This connectivity road is proposed from Dhargalim to Virnoda, but till date the work along this road has not commenced.
According to sources, there are some issues including land acquisition and compensation to land losers which have further delayed the work.
The Electronic City project covers an area of 5.97 lakh square metres, is estimated at Rs 161.32 crore, including grant-in-aid of Rs 73.77 crore by the Centre. It is being set up exclusively for design and manufacturing of electronic and IT projects. But the main purpose of having this project in Pernem taluka was to generate employment opportunities.
Besides water, unemployment is also a major problem faced by the people of this backward taluka and since this project falls in the limits of Tuem Panchayat, this issue has often dominated the gram sabhas that even passed resolutions to reserve 50 per cent jobs for locals and that 20 per cent of the total acquired land be allotted to locals to carry out small businesses.
Tuem panch member Uday Mandrekar said, “There are few demands, which we want the government to take note of. Former Mandrem MLAs Laxmikant Parsekar and Dayanand Sopte never bothered about the villagers.”
Eyebrows are raised over Chief Minister’s statement that nearly 30 investors had expressed their willingness to invest capital in electronics manufacturing centre. What is the status of these companies since except for internal roads, the whole land has remained barren?
Locals question whether the sons of the soil will ever get a job or meet the situation like that of Mopa Greenfield airport where only jobs like security guards and multi-tasking will be given to the locals.
“What has happened to the training and skill education, which the government was talking about? After so many years, there should have been a number of trained youth, who could apply for jobs once the companies are operational. But, sadly the government has turned a blind eye by ignoring everything,” rue locals.
People of Pernem, especially Tuem were promised to be accorded first priority with regards to employment in the Electronic City. However, given the present scenario, it appears they will have to be satisfied with the menial jobs as there is no sign of providing skills to locals, the residents alleged.
“The elected representatives had spoken about providing technical and skill training. What has happened to this? It’s been almost seven years since the foundation stone was laid, but other than internal road connectivity, nothing major has happened,” said Yogesh Naik, a job aspirant.
When contacted, Deputy Director of IT Nijanand Vasta said that one of the reasons for not starting the Tuem Electronic city is the delay in constructing the main 2.3-km-long approach road connecting the national highway due to land acquisition. Of the 14 land owners, 13 have given their consent for land acquisition, and the government’s negotiations with one of them failed. The government has now decided to start process to acquire the land for the approach road.
Vasta said that with no approach road it is causing impediment for the electronic manufacturing companies to transport their raw material in heavy vehicles.
He said that the government has already allotted three plots while four others were given offers of allotment on May 9. In all 11 investors had evinced interest in the electronic city where 15 plots have been earmarked for industries and 45 for micro-industries.
He said that the government had conducted roadshows in Silicon City in Bengaluru and Delhi to attract investors. As it did not yield the desired results, the government has decided to appoint a consultant in a bid to attract investors.
The government has also decided to set up e-waste plant, garbage treatment plant while land has also been allotted for establishment of a full-fledged fire station, electricity sub-station and to the PWD for construction of a sump to store water.
Meanwhile it is reliably learnt that many are reluctant to set up their shops in the Tuem Electronic City due to bureaucratic obstacles and have been urging the government to streamline the procedures by introducing a single-window clearance.
The foundation stone for the Electronic City was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi way back in November 2016, but after much delay, the work of internal roads was taken up. Later in 2021, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that the infrastructure including roads, electricity, internet connectivity and water supply, required for setting up of a manufacturing cluster will be cleared by March 2022. However, other than the internal roads, the project has not seen any further development. Only the works, which were tendered and passed in 2017, stand complete, which includes only the internal roads.