MAPUSA
Calangute villagers are demanding action against developers accused of constructing unauthorized roads within the village.
These roads, allegedly built without proper authorization, have sparked outrage among the locals who are calling on authorities to intervene.
In a specific instance, Vinal Diukar lodged a complaint with the Director of Panchayat and other relevant authorities, alleging that an illegal road was being constructed at Agar Waddo, Calangute by developers Nitin Ganeriwal and Tarun Gupta.
The road purportedly traverses survey numbers 344/1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 343/1, 2, 3, and 346/1. According to Diukar, these areas are low-lying paddy fields owned by the Calangute comunidade and its tenants, which have been unlawfully filled with mud to create the road.
He claims this activity is to facilitate the construction of a hotel, resulting in the encroachment upon and destruction of these paddy fields.
"This activity is being undertaken to facilitate the construction of a hotel in the low-lying area and has resulted in encroachment upon the paddy fields,” Diukar stated in his complaint.
He urged the authorities to immediately halt the illegal construction and prevent further damage to the village’s agricultural lands.
In another incident, the Block Development Officer (BDO) and Calangute panchayat officials conducted a site inspection of an alleged illegal road in Survey No 27/3-A at Naikavaddo, Calangute.
This road, reportedly constructed by another builder, was claimed by the villagers to have been made by clearing forest land, thereby causing significant destruction to the natural habitat.
Additionally, the villagers alleged that the developer encroached on a nullah belonging to the Calangute comunidade.
The residents have expressed their frustration and concerns to local authorities, insisting that these unauthorized developments are causing environmental damage and disrupting the community’s way of life.
They are calling for stringent actions against the developers responsible for these illegal constructions.
The villagers' complaints highlight a broader issue of unchecked development and the need for strict regulatory oversight to protect Calangute’s natural and communal resources. Authorities are urged to take immediate and decisive action to address these grievances and ensure that the village’s integrity is maintained.
