Locals also push for measures to manage heavy traffic flow
Candolim Sarpanch Fermino Fernandes along with other panchayat members listen attentively during the gram sabha meeting on Sunday.
MAPUSA
The Candolim gram sabha on Sunday gave a green signal to the panchayat to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA) study of the village especially due to construction of a large number of hotels/resorts in the beach village.
The locals also asked the panchayat to take measures to manage the traffic flow in the village as tourism season is expected to pick up pace during the Christmas.
The panchayat will engage the services of a private agency which will prepare a comprehensive EIA report of the entire village.
“The report is expected to indicate the impact of construction of new hotels/resorts will have on the water, power, fields, population etc in the village. In fact it will give the whole picture of our village,” said Roshan Mathias, a resident of Candolim.
The panchayat has also decided to form a committee to do an audit of all new constructions/hotels which have been given occupancy certificates in the last five years as per the Goa Land Development Building Construction Regulations.
As per the regulations the panchayat has the jurisdiction to check if these constructions have parking spaces and follow various other rules.
Referring to the traffic chaos witnessed during the long weekend of the Diwali festival, the locals urged the panchayat to take up a holistic view of the traffic management to avoid any hitches during the peak Christmas and the tourism season ahead.
Locals said that traffic jams have become the order of the day along the Candolim-Calangute-Baga road stretch but very few traffic police were seen on roads to manage smooth movement of traffic.
“Surprisingly, during the Governor’s recent visit to Candolim, police were present in large numbers all along the road from Sinquerim to Siolim but hardly any cops are present when tourists flood the streets,” a local rued.
Villagers suggested that the panchayat should solicit advice of traffic experts to manage the heavy flow of tourist traffic.
Candolim Sarpanch Fermino Fernandes informed that non-functioning traffic signals will soon be made operational while traffic wardens will be deployed at all key spots to regulate traffic along with traffic police.
The locals have also requested the panchayat to act against noise pollution and illegal massage parlours and touts on the beach.
