Locals oppose installation of smart meters, casinos on Chapora river
MAPUSA
Voicing strong concerns over unregulated construction and mounting pressure on village infrastructure, residents of Siolim-Marna on Sunday demanded stringent enforcement of setback and parking norms for all roadside projects and called for limiting Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to the minimum permissible levels.
At the gram sabha presided over by Sarpanch Amit Morajkar, villagers complained that several projects were being approved without adequate parking and setbacks, resulting in vehicles being parked on the main road and causing inconvenience to commuters.
“In 2024, a resolution was passed not to grant occupancy certificates if setback and parking areas were not maintained. But today projects are cleared without proper parking and setbacks. We need to know what stops the panchayat from rejecting occupancy,” said Joaquim Barros, a local resident.
Several speakers stressed that large-scale projects were placing excessive strain on the village’s limited infrastructure, including roads and water supply. They urged the panchayat to ensure that only the minimum mandatory FAR is permitted for projects in the village and that no relaxations be granted.
In a significant development, the gram sabha passed a resolution rejecting the installation of smart electricity meters within the Siolim-Marna Village Panchayat jurisdiction. Villagers also demanded that electricity bills be issued strictly for a 30-day period.
Another key resolution adopted during the meeting endorsed an eight-point programme focused on sustainable development and environmental protection. The programme calls for development strictly in accordance with the Regional Plan and Outline Development Plan (ODP), repeal of laws permitting change of land zoning and user, and a complete halt to hill cutting, which villagers described as destruction of people’s heritage.
The resolution also demanded allocation of funds for conducting a comprehensive carrying capacity survey before permitting any new construction, and insisted that no fresh building permissions be granted unless there is a minimum assured 12-hour water supply. It further called for a ban on construction near lakes, ponds, hills and rivers.
The gram sabha also resolved that no permissions should be granted by the panchayat for docking casinos in the Chapora river, now or in the future.
Environmental concerns were raised regarding alleged landfilling of a field at Tarchi Bhatt.
Members of the Biodiversity Committee had earlier complained about the activity, but villagers claimed that the field is now almost fully covered. A member questioned whether the panchayat had granted any permission for the landfilling.
Residents also demanded greater transparency in construction activities, insisting that all developers – including those building villas, row houses and other projects – must compulsorily display approved site plans at construction sites for public scrutiny.
