Commenting on the recent agitations against the proposed Gorai SEZ, the Essel Group reacted very strongly to activists and vested interests (who have encroached on government land earmarked for the project) for misguiding the locals about the project and about Essel’s intentions. Some of these activists are rank outsiders to the region. Their statements about the proposed SEZ project, the Essel Group and Subhash Chandra indicate that they have not understood Essel’s Gorai SEZ plan, have no idea of Essel’s track record as an respected business house and they are indulging in unnecessary mud-slinging about a well intentioned, God fearing and respected business icon who has done more for his fellow villagers than any of them singly or jointly.

Essel is a respected business conglomerate with interests in various businesses such as packaging, education, media and entertainment. Every time you pick up your toothpaste tube you are holding an Essel product and each time you switch on your TV, chances are you will be watching a Zee program. The Gorai SEZ is just one among many future business projects of the Essel Group and the Group is re-evaluating its business interests to go ahead with this project. Essel is sensitive to the apprehensions of the villagers and has now taken a clear position that if, after properly understanding Essel’s proposed SEZ plan, the villagers still think the project will infringe on of their rights, Essel is ready to drop the project!

Commenting on the recent agitation, Essel Chairman Subhash Chandra appreciated the concerns of Cardinal Oswal Gracias about preservation of local culture and displacement of ethnic groups. He wished to reassure the locals and the Church that the Gorai SEZ project conceived by Essel, is designed to showcase local culture – not harm it. He believes that sustained development without diluting the local culture and ethnic value systems are crucial to maintain the diversity of cultures in advancing economies such as ours. He said…”we recognise this need and hence want to preserve the Gorai region for future generations, otherwise it will be taken over by the builder lobby and unscrupulous anti-local elements”.

The activists who are poisoning the minds of the locals have not done anything concrete to improve the economic conditions in the villages. Neither are they aware of how deep the relationship is between the Essel and the local population. When Esselworld was being built, the entire material and manpower requirements was procured from the locals and that today 442 locals are directly employed in Esselworld and Water Kingdom. This does not include indirect employment the Essel projects have created for numerous other villagers.

Essel has always stood for wholesome development of this region and its people. In fact all the earnings from Esselworld during the past 20 years have been reinvested in the area. “We are an integral part of the local community and feel that it is the outsiders who are creating disharmony among us” said Chairman Chandra. Ask the locals working in Esselworld and Water Kingdom about the various schemes implemented by Essel to preserve the local ecology and protect the environment and you will know the truth about our good work!

It was pointed out that if Essel had not been sensitive to the preservation of the local culture and environment, Essel Group could have exploited the land to create a commercial hub like the developments across the creek at Borivali and Malad which are a blatant violation of norms. Why have the Activists turned a blind eye to this? In fact if Essel intentions were bad it would have sold the land to a leading high profile builder who claimed that since Essel does not have the wherewithal to steamroll local sensitivities, he would develop the land!

Nilesh Mistry, Senior VP - Corporate Affairs, stated, “Activists such as Medha Patkar, Ulka Mahajan, Surekha Dalvi and others are complete outsiders to this region. They are clueless on the norms regarding development of the region and we would like to ask them if they have done anything by way of economic development that has benefited the local community in this region? We are open to withdraw from the project, but will the villagers be able to handle the means deployed by the builder lobby? ”

The whole belt from Manori to Uttan including Gorai was declared as a Recreation and Tourism Development Zone (RTDZ) by the Government in 1999 and many groups/villagers deposed before the Government for and against the proposed development. It’s difficult to understand why this agitation is being taken up now, 9 years after being passed.

Essel has also clarified that the entire development of the Essel World, Water Kingdom and the Pagoda has been within the rules and regulations laid done by law. The land for the Pagoda is donated by the promoters and it is built with the objective of fostering world peace for people from all walks of life; irrespective of caste, creed and community. Use of the Pagoda is also free.

Regarding the the Essel SEZ project it is categorically stated that the project will remain within the RTDZ regulations by using the wasteland and Essel land. There is no intent to displace any gaothans or heritage precincts in this region. On the contrary, the proposed development would showcase the gaothans, the heritage precincts, and the rich culture of the local fishing community - as the main highlights of the region.

Essel believes that the project, as conceived by it will benefit the entire community and provide a better life and a higher standing of living to future generations. Essel appeals to the community to shun the negative approach of the activists and the vested interests who are misguiding them and misrepresenting facts. Let there be a sincere and open dialogue under the auspices of the Church and the Government, and if the community is still not convinced, Essel will be happy to withdraw from the project.

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