MUMBAI, November 5: Bharatiya Janata Party MP Ram Naik has expressed reservations about the proposed pagoda project at Gorai next to Esselworld.Appealing to the Governor, Dr P C Alexander, the MP from North Mumbai constituency where Manori-Gorai falls, has asked for a ``re-examination of the project from developmental, environmental as well as the legal view point'' and for piped drinking water to the local populace. Naik has also asked the government to hold discussions with the people's local representatives on the project.

Addressing a press conference, Naik expressed doubts on the state government's capability to provide drinking water to over 10,000 potential tourists to the spot once the project called `Dhamma Pattan' is complete.

``Considering that the local population have not been getting drinking water for the past 40 years despite all efforts,'' he added. Pointing out to the fact that the visitors would belong to the upper income group and would come by road via Bhayander, he wondered if the road would not be too narrow to accommodate such a heavy vehicle traffic.

He also observed that the construction was being proposed in a `no development zone' and wondered how it could be sanctioned without taking the local people and their representatives into confidence. The project, to be set up by the Global Vipassana Foundation at an estimated cost of Rs 14 crore includes a Dhamma (meditation) hall of around 80,000 sq ft to accommodate 10,000 people, a 325 feet tall pagoda, an exhibition area of 15,000 sq feet, three peripheral structures admeasuring 10,000 sq feet for residential quarters. The land, donated free of cost, is estimated at a value of Rs 35 crore.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.