MAPUSA
Villagers in Candolim on Sunday voiced strong opposition to any plans for urbanisation in the Calangute constituency, resolving not to allow such projects to take shape in the coastal village.
The issue was raised at a gram sabha meeting, where residents highlighted concerns over the potential loss of the village’s identity due to unchecked development.
“We want our Candolim to remain a village. We are against plans for urbanisation,” villagers said in unison.
Several residents expressed fears that large-scale development could permanently alter the character of their village and urged the panchayat to desist from permitting any new projects.
A major point of concern was the ongoing construction activity in the village, despite a recent High Court order scrapping the Official Development Plan (ODP) for the four panchayats in the Calangute constituency.
Resident Anil Kandolkar noted that construction work continued despite the panchayat’s earlier assurances to stop ongoing projects.
“Despite the HC order on the ODP, constructions were going on at full swing behind tin sheets covering various sites in the coastal village,” he said.
Candolim Sarpanch Blaize Fernandes responded that the panchayat had issued stop-work orders to several construction sites and asked villagers to collect the list of sites directly from the office.
The gram sabha also discussed plans by the Tourism Department to repair dilapidated quarters at Fort Aguada and reconstruct two new buildings with ground plus four floors.
The sarpanch assured the villagers that no permissions would be granted without panchayat approval.
Residents further urged the panchayat to study the village’s carrying capacity and immediately halt the issuance of new construction licences, warning that overdevelopment was pushing the village to its limits.
Some villagers suggested adopting a policy similar to Parra, where the panchayat, under Sarpanch Daniel Lobo, decided not to permit any major projects.
The gram sabha concluded with a firm resolution to protect the village’s heritage and identity, with villagers demanding that the panchayat take strict measures to regulate construction and prevent urbanisation in Candolim.
