Villagers hold door-to-door campaign, flag threat to water, wildlife and rural character
Residents of Carapur-Sarvan take part in an awareness rally organised to inform villagers about the possible long-term effects of the proposed mega housing project.
BICHOLIM
Concerned over the potential environmental and ecological impact of a proposed mega housing project, residents of Carapur-Sarvan organised an awareness rally to inform villagers about its possible long-term effects.
During the rally, villagers went door-to-door distributing pamphlets and explaining how the project could affect Carapur’s fragile ecosystem, agriculture, and overall way of life. The residential complex, reportedly planned to accommodate more than 5,000 residents, is feared to put significant pressure on local water resources, potentially leading to water scarcity in the future.
Residents expressed concern that the project could severely threaten the village’s biodiversity. According to locals, wild animals have already started entering the village at night, allegedly due to disturbance in their natural habitat. These animals have reportedly been damaging agricultural fields, and villagers fear that, in the future, there could even be attacks on residents if human-wildlife conflict intensifies.
The awareness rally aimed to unite villagers in opposition to the project and to encourage collective action to safeguard the village’s environmental balance and traditional agricultural practices. Participants emphasised that the project could permanently alter the rural character of Carapur, disrupt its peace, and fundamentally change its environmental landscape.
The rally began at the Shantadurga temple in Carapur–Sarvan and proceeded up to Kolmavada, covering various wards of the village. At each locality, residents interacted with households and distributed informational leaflets explaining the anticipated risks associated with the development.
Villagers stated that the adverse effects of the project are already becoming visible and warned that the situation could worsen if construction continues unchecked. Taking these concerns into account, they declared that the agitation against the residential project would be intensified in the coming days to protect the village’s identity, environment, and future generations.
