MLA Reginaldo Lourenco along with Curtorim Sarpanch Alcinha Da Silva and villagers submit a memorandum to the District Collector, South objecting to change in the zone of no-development slopes in the village. Captured by : The Goan
MARGAO
Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco on Monday led a delegation to the South Goa District Collector, Asvin Chandru to lodge their strong objection to any move by the government to change the Land Use Zone of Survey Numbers 449/0 and 18/2 of Curtorim Village from No Development Slope to Settlement.
Accompanied by Curtorim Sarpanch Alcinhna D’Silva, panchayat members and citizens, Reginaldo submitted a memorandum to the District Collector drawing his attention to the objection raised by the Village Panchayat of Curtorim to the change of zone of properties surveyed under Survey Nos. 449/0 and 18/2 of Curtorim village.
He pointed out that the Curtorim panchayat had earlier written to the Collector’s office in a letter dated April 27, 2024, objecting to any change of zone in the village under 39A of the TCP Act. It was further pointed out that the Curtorim Gram Sabha held on February 25, 2024, had strongly objected to any change of Land Use Zone in the village under 39A of the TCP Act.
Reginaldo further told the Collector that he has come to know that a request has been made to the Collector’s office for the change of Zone under 17/2 of properties surveyed under Survey No. 449/0 and 18/2 of Curtorim Village. “These properties are shown as a No Development Slope on RP 21 and the total area of Survey No. 449/0 is 67525 sq mts and of Survey No. 18/2 is 13765 square metres and both properties are located on top of lush green hills.
“If these properties are converted to settlement and if development is done on the hill, there is every likelihood of a Wayanad-like situation developing in the area and landslides affecting the houses below the hill,” he said.
The Curtorim MLA further pointed out there’s a strong resentment in the general public against the proposed change of zone of both the NDS hill areas. “The soil on top of both the above properties along with the surrounding areas is land clay type. Changing the Land use Zone of the same from ND Settlement will result in the hill cutting for construction activity and in turn will destroy the ecological balance of both the hills, which have a cascading effect like landslides on the houses below,” he added.
