Development or Destruction? My historic village of Cuncolim is very well known all around Goa for land conversions in the name of so called development.It all started with the Industrial estate promising jobs for locals but in reality the same polluted our clean land,our ground water and what not.As assembly elections are fast approaching,the issue of pollution may rise again but as usual the the presently MLA of Cuncolim will promise Cuncollekars with some sort of treatment plant to treat the same. No citizen of our country can be against development but we miserably failed to distinguish between development and destruction.A huge area of agriculture land was acquired for the present lone so called government village school playground at Cuncolim but till today it is not clear for Cuncollekar's like me that the same is for the use of the locals or for the practice sessions for Indian or other powerful football Clubs as gates of the ground are mostly been locked and people like me,have to jump over the gates to use the same. The people in power mostly had to convert agriculture land for development projects like the present five star bus stand,the market complex and Multipurpose hall next to the market Complex, the parking area etc.Agriculture land opposite to the five star bus stand also been acquired to have all government offices in Cuncolim under one roof but again since the Assembly elections are approaching and due to the one day hunger strike by farmer Vishnu Dessai,Joaquim Alemao says that the project on the said land will be scrapped. Development is required but the continuation of the same at the present pace will invite destruction and I am really surprised to see that the Cuncolim Union Sports Culb had to convert the historic Zulpea-Xett,the lone natural ground of those days in the heart of Cuncolim to make way for their Club house when so much land is available for government projects and the migrants to have their own houses. With regard to NIT,as a Citizen of the historic village of Cuncolim,it is my right to know, in what way it will benefit the locals and niz goenkars as a whole?With regard to the creation of jobs,I tried hard to get into the Cuncolim Industrial Estate as a Trainee Chemist, way back in 1996 but the company was looking for better candidates than me.If.in the name of NIT,our huge area of land will be mis-used by the people in power without benefiting locals than it's out right to oppose the same.It is our right to oppose if the selfish people are supporting the project for their personal gains as they always do but if it will really benefit the locals and goans, we should not be foolish to oppose the same. Joel MoraisP.O.Cuncolim,Bencleamvaddo,Salcette,Goa.mob - 9970561727
