Churchill backs Raheja’s project
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, MAY 19
PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao has strongly demanded that Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat come out with a policy on mega housing projects, even as he favoured low cost housing to meet the requirements of the common man.
“I have asked Chief Minister to work out a clear-cut policy on housing projects. Many a Goan builder is in the soup today because of opposition. We need housing projects. How can anyone just object to projects. How will this benefit the state”, the PWD Minister sought to know, while making a strong case for a government policy on mega housing.
Saying the government should work out a policy, whether ground-plus two or three storey building for the coastal belt, Alemao batted for housing projects, adding “We need housing projects. Without development, you want to finish everyone”.
Claiming that around 1000 Goan builders have been affected by the ongoing opposition to mega housing projects, Alemao said “Construction activity is the occupation of these builders. Around two lakh people are employed by these builders. They are in trouble and some even want to commit suicide because there is no policy”.
While urging the Chief Minister to come out a clear policy on the mega housing, Alemao said that development of the state cannot be paralysed because of the opposition to the housing project.
Supporting low cost housing scheme for Goans, Alemao said ordinary Goans cannot afford to buy flats and houses at huge rates. “The low cost housing should meet the demands of the ordinary people”, he added.
Strongly coming out in favour of the Rajeha project in Carmona village, which has been opposed by anti-mega housing activists, the PWD Minister criticized Carmona Panch member Orlando D’Silva for opposing the project. “D’Silva had supported a housing project when he was the panch member. Why is he opposing the project now when the whole panchayat body and village is supporting the project”, he questioned.
Claiming that villagers have no problem with the Raheja project, Alemao said only this one man (Orlando) is opposing the project, which will benefit the villagers. When newsmen asked the PWD Minister in what way people will be benefited by the project, Alemao said jobs of watchman and other vacancies will be created by the project.
Charging Orlando for distributing pamphlets stating that the project would invite Muslims in the village, Alemao said he has asked the Superintendent of Police, South and the District Collector to take action against the panch member. “How can you discriminate against other religious communities. The land belongs to all communities. Orlando had tried to stop the project through various means, but the villagers of Carmona knows Churchill well and are supporting the Rajeha project”, he asserted, adding that the villagers had even confronted Orlando for opposing the project at the gram sabha meeting.
Claiming that Orland is he right hand man of former MLA Luizinho Faleiro, the PWD Minister said that the housing project was first passed during the tenure of the former MLA.
When newsmen asked whether the village has adequate infrastructure to host the Rajeha project, Alemao said the Gudi-Orlim water pipeline would solve the water problem in the area.