PERNEM
Locals at the Morjim Gram Sabha on Sunday resolved to oppose a casino project proposed in the village, after claiming that they were not taking into confidence regarding the proposed project.
Morjim Sarpanch Pawan Morje said he will forward a resolution expressing public objections to the authorities concerned.
A large number of villagers from Kannaik Wada in Morjim were present in the Gram Sabha, which was chaired by Sarpanch Pawan Morje. The deputy sarpanch and other panch members were also present at the Gram Sabha.
When the topic came up for discussion, locals sought to know who had given permission to construct a structure in the village for the proposed casino. They also raised questions on whether authorities had taken the locals into confidence.
Mayur Shetgaonkar said the village already suffers from inadequate water supply and such large projects would put further pressure on the village.
He claimed that the panchayat should have first convened a meeting of villagers on this proposed project to decide if the villagers were agreeable to the project.
After a discussion in the matter, locals said they do not want any casino in Morjim village and demanded that permission granted to construct a building be withdrawn immediately. Residents then unanimously passed a resolution to this effect.
Sarpanch Pawan Morje said government authorities have given a license to construct the building and clarified that the panchayat had not given any licence to conduct operations in the building.
Morje assured the residents that all members of the Morjim Panchayat are also opposed to any attempts to set up a casino in the village.
A few days ago, Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar had attended a Satyanarayana Mahapuja at the Sri Kaloba Devasthan. Locals had interacted with Arolkar and voiced their opposition to the proposed casino.
They claimed that no one in the village had demanded a casino in the area and sought to know why projects were being set up without taking the local panchayat and residents into confidence.
Arolkar assured the people that if they were opposed to the project, he would stand by their wishes.
He informed that he has also sent a letter to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and requested him to withdraw permissions to the project.
