Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira along with prominent locals addressing the media after meeting the deputy town planner in Mapusa on Friday. Captured by : Agnelo Pereira
MAPUSA
The villagers of Calangute led by Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira marched to the TCP office in Mapusa on Friday and demanded not to issue any permissions to construction/mega projects in Calangute particularly in Boa Viagem and Baga hills.
The villagers also demanded revocation of any technical permission issued to any project on the basis of ODP or the NOC issued by the NGPDA recently.
“In the recent gram sabha it was brought to the notice that several illegal constructions have come up in the coastal village by filling of low lying areas, filling of agricultural fields for commercial purposes etc. The green fabric (eco system) of the village is under threat with haphazard ways of clearing the files by the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department for the development of projects in low lying areas and on the slope of Boa Viagem hill having gradient of more than 1:10,” said Clotildes Braganca, a resident of Calangute in a written memorandum submitted to the TCP office.
The villagers further said providing for massive conversion for the purpose of construction will overburden the existing infrastructure.
“At present the electricity and water requirement of Calangute is much higher than what is supplied. It is incumbent upon the authorities to examine the existing infrastructure so as not to burden the same with new projects,” the memorandum said.
The memorandum also said that the Calangute panchayat decided to again file a writ petition to challenge the procedure implemented in changing of zones and re-notifying the Calangute ODP-2025 without consulting the village panchayat which was not in accordance with law and public interest.
“We understand that the TCP department will ensure that utmost care will be taken while issuing technical NOC/permission to protect the green fabric and safeguard the ecological balance of the village,” Braganca said.
The locals also requested the TCP department not to issue permission to any project in the properties at Boa Viagem hill and the surrounding areas of the village.
Calangute Constituency Forum President Premanand Diukar, Chairman of village biodiversity committee Benedict Lobo, former sarpanch Anthony Menezes, Vivek D’Silva and others were also part of the group who met the deputy town planner.
