Show of strength at Chimbel today to oppose IT Park

PANJIM: Chimbel residents have decided to oppose Goa government’s proposed IT park project around the historical Chimbel lake at Kadamba plateau. In what could be a show of strength, a mega public meeting is scheduled in the village on Sunday. 

“The IT park project, which has been moved to Chimbel, is nothing but a disaster for forest cover and the bio-diversity of Chimbel. Villagers will be forced to face the negative and adverse effects, just like how Chimbel is facing that of the Indiranagar slum,” Chimbel Gram Seva Kala Ani Sanskruti Manch president Gurunath Shirodkar said. 

He added, “This has already been discussed in the Chimbel gram sabha at several occasions. However, the IT department has failed to take the villagers into confidence before proposing the famous Chimbel lake area wetland at Kadamba plateau for IT Park. The villagers are not opposing the IT policy but are opposing the location whereby thousands of trees, including medicinal plants, are going to be cut and destroyed and occupation of 70 percent tribal community, other communities will be in danger.”

He alleged that from Ganesh Chaturthi onwards, the forest cover and greenery around Chimbel lake is being destroyed in a bid to begin the project. 

To oppose the proposed selection of Chimbel wetland lake area for IT park and to condemn the destruction of forest cover by instigated elements, the manch has appealed to the people to visit the site and express their opinion whether the government is justified in choosing the heritage place for the project.