OLD GOA
Even as the Patto area in Panaji went underwater in a few days of rain, the village of Merces is facing a more severe threat if the plan of EDC to set up the Patto II project is allowed to go ahead.
Highlighting this at an awareness meeting held at the Merces church premises, on Saturday evening, speakers urged the people to unite against the project before it is too late.
Speaking at the meeting, Elsa Dias said that the Patto area once used to be part of Morombi-O-Pequeno, one of the four revenue villages of Merces, and it used to be khazan land before it was acquired by the government for setting up commercial buildings.
“Here the land acted as a fractal runoff as excess rainwater used to get collected, absorbed and later, slowly drain into the Ourem creek. However, with the area getting concretized there is flooding in the area which was witnessed recently.
“Now, the EDC has announced plans to set up Patto II project in Morombi-O-Grande which would be a disaster to Merces village as the plan is to set up the project on a vast land of 6 lakh square metres,” Dias informed while referring to the information attained under RTI.
“As per RTI, 60 high-rise buildings are coming up which would be home to around 20,000 apartments.
“This is an area where there is fractal runoff of water and even the government has marked it as khazan land in the CZMP. If it is converted into concrete, then the surrounding areas of Merces will be flooded just like Patto in Panaji.
Dias further posed, “If buildings are built here, where will the rainwater, which not only comes from the village but also from the surrounding hills, go?”
“Just imagine the amount of flooding that would be caused if Patto II is allowed to come up in Merces,” Dias stated.
“Not only floods but imagine the amount of garbage and sewage that would be generated by 20,000 apartments,” Dias quipped and urged the locals from Merces to do something about it before it is too late.
Locals voice concern over sidelining of Merces' name
THE GOAN NETWORK
OLD GOA
Fearing that the name of Merces village would be ultimately wiped off from the map of Goa, concerned locals have urged the people to unite and oppose any such move by the government authorities.
Speaking at an awareness meeting on the threat to Merces village, a local Michael Dias informed that the present Patto area used to be part of Merces.
“But later it was acquired for setting up commercial buildings and it was merged into Panaji city. Now, in another part of Merces, Goa Bazar and District Court are coming up. After these are set up, they will slowly rename that area as Panaji also."
“Also, there is a plan to set up Patto II project in Morombi-O-Grande, which is one of the revenue villages of Merces. But, they have falsely named it Kadamba Plateau. How it has been named as such we do not know because the area is part of Merces village,” Dias stated while opining that slowly the name of Merces will cease to exist.
Fr Bolmax Pereira said that if a name is changed, then the identity of the locals will change.
“We cannot allow such things to happen because if identity is changed then everything changes. We will not remain as gaunkars or as Merxekars or as Goenkars,” Fr Pereira opined.
“If we want to live, we will have to save our identity. So, there is a need for all to come together and extend support to those who are fighting against such divisive plans,” the priest added.
