Villagers petition Varca panchayat against 232-room resort project

Varca villagers submit a memorandum to Sarpanch Flavia Barretto opposing the proposed hotel resort.

MARGAO
Varca villagers on Monday upped the ante against the 232-room hotel resort proposed at the Pedda area of the village, with locals demanding the revocation of the construction licence issued to the project.

Saying the project is not just a building, a delegation of villagers said the project is a direct attack on the local environment, resources and Goemkarponn.

A memorandum was submitted by the villagers led by social worker Warren Alemao, demanding the setting up of a multi-disciplinary inspection team comprising representatives from the Varca Village Panchayat, TCP Department, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, Goa State Pollution Control Board, PWD, Water Resources Department and, most importantly, the residents of Varca village to conduct a thorough on-ground site inspection.

“This is not just about one project – it is about the future of Varca, the future of Salcete and the future of Goa,” Warren told the media after submitting the memorandum to Varca Sarpanch Flavia Barretto.

Citing a host of grounds for the revocation of the construction licence, the memorandum has alleged violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms, further stating that the project has exceeded the carrying capacity of the village.

Saying that the Pedda area of the village is reeling under water shortage, the memorandum has pointed out that the village’s carrying capacity has already been exceeded, with severe water resource concerns threatening locals.

Warren made a mention of the existing narrow village roads, saying a hotel resort of the magnitude proposed at Pedda will choke the roads, resulting in traffic congestion and road safety hazards.

Claiming that the project threatens to disrupt natural drainage systems and is a threat to the village ecosystems and biodiversity, the memorandum demanded revocation of the construction licence pending a comprehensive reassessment of the project's compliance with all applicable regulations and conditions.

The delegation has called for commissioning a detailed carrying capacity study to evaluate the cumulative impact of existing and proposed tourism infrastructure on the environmental and social fabric of Varca village.

Demanding a public hearing to allow all stakeholders, including local residents, traditional fisherfolk, and environmental experts, to present their perspectives on the project and its potential impacts, the memorandum has called for a comprehensive environmental and social impact assessment study to be conducted by an independent agency to evaluate the project's long-term implications for the village.