the goan I network
MARGAO
After waging a sustained battle against the Rahejas for over a decade now, scuttling the Mumbai-based realtor’s plan for a mega housing project in the village, Carmonkars are bracing up for yet another battle “ this time against an eco-resort proposed on land admeasuring 90,000 square metres comprising of paddy fields, water bodies and mangroves.
Agitated villagers, who have got to know of the application made by Ms Bullion Infrastructure Pvt Ltd to the TCP for change in zone, have a simple question to ask the government “ how could the Town and Country Planning department (TCP) entertain an application from the company when it is crystal clear that the so-called eco-resort is coming up on paddy fields, mangroves and water bodies.
Villagers including the local Carmona Village Panchayat are sore that the TCP has initiated the process to effect the change in zone by keeping the local body in the dark and without even obtaining a simple NOC from the panchayat.
While a special meeting of the panchayat body is scheduled on Saturday to discuss the issue threadbare and adopt an appropriate resolution, villagers, including the Carmona Villagers Social Welfare Forum are bracing up for a sustained battle against the eco-resort and has called for ward-wise meetings to bring about awareness among the local populace before launching a movement against
the project.
Says president of Carmona Villagers Social Welfare Forum, Succoro Miranda: “For whom is this scheme meant for. Is it for the farmers or the companies involved in infrastructure. The poor need the fields to cultivate. The eco-project is being proposed on land comprising of paddy fields, mangroves, khazanas and water bodies. If this government is serious in protecting agriculture, it should have taken back the fields and handed to the people to cultivate.”
He recalled that Carmona villagers had been fighting against the ill-conceived Raheja project and the government wants to foist this eco-resort in an eco-sensitive zone. “We are being forced by the government to fight every now and then. The government should have rejected the application of Bullion Infrastructure because the project is coming up in an eco-sensitive zone,” Miranda said.
Incidentally, Miranda recalled that people had raised many an eyebrow when the Regional Plan was being discussed as a 10-metre road was being proposed adjoining the land in question.
“Now, it is confirmed that the 10-metre road was being proposed to benefit this company. We know one can build a farm house in a paddy field, but can you convert
water bodies, mangroves, khazan lands under the guise of a eco-resort,” Miranda questioned.
Sarpanch Allwyn Jorge said it is unfortunate that the TCP did not notify the panchayat before proposing conversion of huge stretch of paddy fields, khazans, mangroves and water bodies for the eco-resort.
“We have called for a special body meeting on Saturday to discuss the issue. We had been fighting against the Rahejas for over a decade now. This is a sensitive issue and I strongly believe that natural resources should be protected and the environment taken care of,” Allwyn said.
He said the panchayat would take a resolution on the project and submit the same to the TCP department. “I will call on the TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai and submit the resolution with a plea to intervene and stop the destruction of the eco-sensitive zone in Carmona,” the sarpanch added.
