From The Navhind Times, 25th october 2010
Islanders of Vanxim in Sao Mathias panchayat, Malar have once against reiterated their resolve to oppose the proposed resort and golf course project in their village.The villagers will be holding a public rally on November 7 to protest against the project being pursued by a Chennai-based company. The meeting will be held near the church at 4 p.m.
Earlier, the gram sabha members strongly opposed the resort project, as the 70-odd villagers vowed to oppose the same as the villagers raised concerns over the social impact of the project on the people of the village due to gambling arising out of the casinos and prostitution in the disguise of recreational club and spa. The villagers then decided to hold a meeting on November 7.
The gram sabha also decided to strongly oppose a proposal for a children’s park-cum-car parking in the village as they felt that it was being done to benefit the mega project promoters. The villagers also brought to the notice of the sarpanch, Mr Tulsidas Kundaikar about a doctor who is operating illegally in the village.
The villagers further complained that the village road was repaired in 1999 and no work has been done for the past 11 years while the streetlights too are not functioning and people face blackout on the streets which inconveniences the 80-odd families.
The sarpanch assured the villagers to look into the matter at the earliest and get the electricity fixtures repaired. The meeting passed off peacefully.