The Oxel- Siolim panchayat has come out openly against the multipurpose project in river Chapora and have strongly objected as it will have an impact on the traditional fishermen. The new multi-purpose project comprises of marinas, ferry terminal, a tourist village, museum and aquarium project estimated to cost Rs 1,000 crore. Sources said that the chief minister has recently held a meeting of eight gram panchayats namely Agarwada, Oxel, Marna, Morjim, Parsem, Tuem and Camurlim to discuss the project which is situated on the banks of river Chapora. The Chapora river development project will include a marina and ferry terminal costing Rs 100 crore, a tourist village and fisherman’s wharf costing Rs 100 crore, a museum and hotel complex at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore, aquarium, sea world and bird park costing Rs 300 crore, adventure sports island costing Rs 100 crore and water transport service utilities and cable car costing Rs 200 crore. Speaking to the media Oxel-Siolim sarpanch Rama Parab called upon the chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar to do a rethink on the project as the project will have an impact on the traditional fishermen. Parab who is supported by his panch members said the project which is from Morjim to Colvale along the river Chapora is shown as a Rs 1,000 crore project but in reality it is more than that. The idea is to facilitate business for outsiders and not traditional fishermen.
www.navhindtimes.in 2011