Team Herald
PANJIM: Goltim-Navelim Village Panchayat gram sabha on Sunday passed a resolution opposing the eco-tourism project proposed by the Tourism Department with the villagers making it very clear that they would not only protest and if need be, were ready shed their blood.
It is pertinent to note that the State government had floated a tender for the development, operation, and maintenance of eco-tourism project on 7,697sqms of land owned by the Tourism Department, earlier this month. The project with 20 Swiss cottage tents or eco-cottages, or a mix of both, is proposed to be set up on the Divar hillock in close proximity to a church, cemetery and temple.
Speaking to media persons, sarpanch Mario Pinto said, “The eco-tourism project is to come up close to church, cemetery and a temple, if it comes up the whole place will be lost. I do not know what the Tourism Department is doing. Due to the project, the identity of the village will be lost. We will be foreigners in our own land. We have a unique village and the seven members of the village panchayat are committed to keep it as it is. Not an inch should be altered. If required we are not only ready to protest, if required we will give our blood, let this message go across.”
“We have demanded a park for the benefit of the locals so that in the evening children can go there and play. We have demanded that infrastructure be created which will be for the use of the people and the locals,” he said.
According to the tender document, the licensee will have to develop a meditation centre along with an outdoor amphitheatre of a minimum of 300 sqm and having a capacity to accommodate 20 people, which can be used for activities like yoga or meditation.