Loliem comunidade gives approval for Film City
RESOLUTION PASSED BY 50-4 VOTES BY COMPONENTS
In a major boost to the government and a set-back to the environmentalists and villagers (gram sabha members), Comunidade of Loliem-Polem has given its consent to the proposed 250 acres/10 lakh sq mts of land on Bhagwati plateau for lease-out to the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) for setting up a film and entertainment city.
The resolution passed by 50-4 votes by the components of Loliem-Polem Comunidade states, ‘Resolved that the consent of components is hereby accorded to the proposed 250 acres/10 lakh sq mts of uncultivable land as explained in the meeting and tentatively marked in the map. The land belongs to the comunidade of Loliem-Polem and the same is to be leased to Entertaining Society of Goa (ESG) for setting up a film and entertainment city/industry.’
Loliem-Polem Comunidade president Vishwajeet Warik further stated that the “Managing committee is authorised
to sign the documents for this project. Total 54 members were present and 50 members supported, 4 members opposed, while resolutions were signed by all members present at the end of the meeting”.
To a specific query, Warik informed that ‘Power project is not yet processed’, amidst residents’ claims that Comunidade had also given consent for another 750 acres /approximately 30 lakh sq mts of land to WAPCOS company to set up a Hybrid Solar Project in the village. Incidentally, Om Prabhugaonkar, one of a few components who is in the forefront to oppose any developments other than its traditional usage
on the eco-sensitive Bhagwati plateau said, ‘It is a sad decision by the members of Comunidade. We four have opposed it. They have still not realized the importance of this Bhagwati plateau”.
“Also, during the meeting, they didn’t allow botanist Dr Ashish Prabhugaonkar to make a point about the importance of this plateau who has studied the ecological aspect of it. This only shows the vested interests and their plans to grab the land. No project details were given even after repeated demands. These illegal and unethical mega projects are a death knell for our villages”, he added.