*Taleigao Residents demand scrapping of Dona Paula 'IT Park'*
Following the national landmark scrapping of SEZs in Goa, the Taleigao Residents for Appropriate Development (TRAD) took its demand that the Dona Paula IT Park also be scrapped to a national meeting of IT Ministers and Hi-Tech companies from around country. A large group of Dona Paula residents demonstrated outside the Hotel Marriot in Panjim during the inauguration of the two day Wisitex [EMAIL PROTECTED] 2008. The spokesperson for TRAD, Jason Keith Fernandes pointed out that it was imperative that the various participants from the IT industry nationally, and high-ranking Government employees attending the networking event be made aware of Goa State's incompetent and shady track record in promoting IT. Protestors informed participants that the Resolution of the Gram Sabha of Taleigao Panchayat, passed on 19th December 2007, demanded that the 'IT Habitat being set up in Dona Paula be scrapped forthwith". "Our intention is to embarrass the Government which claims to be a government of the *aam aadmi*, but seems to ignore such democratic decisions and persistently push anti-people projects" said Fernandes. Stressing that TRAD was not against IT, Annand Madgavkar, resident of Dona Paula and a key organizer of the opposition to the IT Park in Dona Paula, said that the group was opposed to the IT Park in any form. He pointed out, that the project area sustained more than 80 tribal families who would be displaced from the land and lose their source of livelihood. "We want to remind the Chief Minister and the IT Minister of our Prime Minister's promise that there would be no conversion of agricultural land for industrial development." TRAD has pointed out that the nature of the IT industry is such that it does not require the huge amounts of land that are being given away, practically for free, by the Government of Goa. TRAD has promised the State that it will continue to monitor its position on the 'IT Park' and draw attention to its misdemeanors should it fail to respect the voice of the people. -- ------------------------------------------------------- Read my thoughts at www.dervishnotes.blogspot.com
