Villagers also oppose allowing constructions within 200 metres of HTL
A resident of Calangute, Premanand Diukar addressing the gram sabha members during a discussion on Sunday. Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira and other panchayat members were also present. Photo by Agnelo Pereira Headline: Calangute gram sabha resolves against
MAPUSA
Stung by the spurt in construction projects which is slowly clawing away the hills and fields in the coastal village of Calangute, the gram sabha on Sunday unanimously resolved not to issue any permission for landfilling of fields and hill cutting.
The gram sabha also decided to protect the vulnerable coast-line in the beach village and opposed any permission for construction works within 0 to 200 metres of the high tide line (HTL).
Moving a resolution against massive landfilling and hill cutting taking place in the village, a resident of Calangute, Premanand Diukar emphasised the need to protect the hills and fields for posterity.
“We need development but not at the cost of the environment. People are selling land to builders who then use their influence to trample every law of the land to come up with huge projects. There is a need to strike a balance between greed and need. The panchayat should not allow permission for hill cutting and filling of land of low-lying areas,” Diukar said.
Admitting about the menace of unauthorised landfilling, Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira informed that he was aware of landfilling activity taking place near the Palmarina resort and near the church.
“I will request the Revenue Minister, Anatasio (Babush) Monserrate to ask the deputy collector to direct the police to take action against mischief makers. I will also take up the issue with the chief minister,” Sequeira assured the villagers.
The gram sabha unanimously passed a resolution to stop permission for land filling and hill cutting in the village.
Diukar also stressed the need to safeguard the long coast-line in the village which is being ravaged by unscrupulous elements for commercial interests but at the cost of the environment and to the detriment of the local residents.
“The carrying capacity from Sinquerim to Baga is over. If there is a tsunami the entire village will vanish within seconds giving no opportunity for us to escape. We need to protect our coast and the sand dunes. No further constructions should be allowed within the 0 to 200 metres HTL,” he said.
The villagers adopted a resolution not to allow any more construction activity along the coast.
A local Clotilda Braganza said that the land acquisition process to construct a sewage pumping station at Gauravaddo East should be immediately de-notified. She said the decision to construct the controversial pumping station was cancelled by the previous panchayat after a protest from the locals of the area but the land acquisition process was yet to be denotified.
The sarpanch informed that the gram sabha resolution on the issue will be sent to the concerned authorities and the entire process of de-notification will be set in motion.
Braganza also informed that the previous panchayat had decided to de-notify the urban status for Calangute village after the gram sabha opposed the same but it was yet to be de-notified.
The sarpanch assured the villagers to look into the matter and take necessary steps to de-notify the same.
The sarpanch informed that a special gram sabha will be held on September 25 to reconstitute several village committees in the panchayat.
He also said that another special gram sabha will be called to discuss on the draft Outline Development Plan 2025 for the village of Calangute.
