---------------------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre (GDRC) Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ 5 million migrants to invade Goa ------------------------------------------
by Bosco De Sousa Eremita Legislator from Cortalim Matanhy Saldanha has warned that the government has a hidden plan to flood the State with about 5 million migrants by mooting various mega projects aimed at catering to their interests and those in power. Citing the government's obsession for Expressway, Monorail, Information Technology Park, Food Park, Sky bus, SEZ, International airport, sale of land and indiscriminate construction licenses being granted and the consequent boom in real estate activity, Saldanha asserted these projects are not to Goan interest. He said, these projects will eventually benefit immigrants, with the government eventually reaching a point when it will in fact lure migrants to make these projects economically viable. He said, the State population does not offer sufficient manpower to make use of such mass form of transport like monorail or sky bus and termed the Expressway as another avenue where the state will find it hard to sustain with the existing population. He regretted that the government was in the process of finalizing plans on the Expressway when such Expressways are normally built to traverse huge distance of 500-odd kilometers. The environmental leader who pioneered several awareness campaigns said the government's primary interest by mooting such projects is aimed at generating business for excess money existent amongst contractors and businessmen "so that black money can be ploughed into the project". "Money may even come from foreign countries and this will result in huge kickbacks to the politicians in power, but eventually the locals will have to pay through their nose, especially if such projects are executed under BOOT (Built, Own, Operate, and Transfer), so much so that at every ten kilometers, people may be subjected to toll fee". Saldanha foresees a definite link between Expressway and the craze to build a new airport. "Our political leaders do not know what they are doing. They are planning without knowing the ground reality size of land, population of area and sustainability of such projects", he said, adding that priority ought to be for proper sewage, underground cabling, water availability and drainage. The Cortalim legislator said planners are still groping in the dark whether the Expressway will comprise tunnels through hills and said there's no figure available to determine the number of flyovers and under bridges envisaged. Saldanha urged planners to ensure that projects are geologically sound and aesthetically matching with the surroundings and pristine glory of the State. "Instead of Expressway, the existing roads can be widened by another ten meters, with a special cycling track and connected with by pass wherever required". Reiterating his sworn opposition to Expressway, he said such roads cannot be serpentine; as a result the project will involve razing of several residential houses. Ideally, roads ought to be centrally located with greater connectivity to east and west of the State, with linking roads of villages, so people are benefited, he said, and went on to add that the Konkan railway route had failed despite assurance that trains would stop at all stations so that locals would benefit. "Like KRC, this Expressway too is a corridor for neighboring states. At least one local train ought to be operational. Therefore the hinterland route was more viable. Our stand on the railway route stands vindicated", he added. ------------------------------------- HERALD 24/07/06 page 1 ----------------------------------- ======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy ======================================= -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.4/396 - Release Date: 7/24/2006 _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
