After film city idea, fruit unit plan infuriates Loliem-Polem

Canacona: After the film city plan triggered an uproar at Loliem-Polem in Canacona, a proposal to set up a fruit processing unit on comunidade land in the area is now provoking a pushback from the locals.
The unit is proposed to be built across 1 lakh square metres of comunidade land.
An extraordinary general body meeting of the Loliem-Polem comunidade will discuss the matter on April 6, at Keshav Devalaya, Loliem.
The comunidade has received an application from Mallikarjun Multi-Fruits Processing Company to establish a unit to process coconut, cashew, mango, and banana among other fruits. It also wants to undertake farming.
Denis Fernandes of the Loliem Citizens’ Committee questioned why a rocky plateau is being considered for such a project when fertile land is available in other areas like Cotigao, Gaondongrim, Shishewal.
“What is so good about Madditolop land? Why is our precious comunidade land being sought? For such projects, there is enough unused land at Shristhal industrial area,” Fernandes said. “These land-grabbing ideas need to be stopped.”
Prashant Pagi, another local, said if the intention is to generate job opportunities for youth, then the proposed processing unit can easily be set up in the Canacona Industrial Estate.
“Only a few units there are currently operational, while most lie idle,” Pagi said. “Additionally, there are lakhs of square metres of land still available within the estate, which can be developed to create employment for locals.”
Pagi said that demanding comunidade land — which holds high commercial value — raises suspicion.
“Loliem locals are already facing a water shortage. So, the question is: where will this proposed processing unit get water from?” he said.
A retired teacher from the area, S Naik, said Bhagwati plateau has environmental significance because of its biodiversity.
Loliem-Polem Biodiversity Management committee chairperson Dattaprassad Prabhugaonkar said, “Comunidade land is common land and it should be rightfully retained for our future generations. The little land available shouldn’t be given to any company or outsiders.”
He added, “This plateau is important to not only locals but also to wild animals who will otherwise venture into villages.”