MAPUSA
The Nachinola gram sabha has joined the growing chorus of villages opposing Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, unanimously adopting a resolution on Sunday calling upon the State government to repeal the contentious provision.
The resolution was approved without dissent after villagers attending the gram sabha backed the proposal. Residents voiced apprehension that the provision could pave the way for unchecked land-use conversions, posing a threat to the village's agricultural fields, orchards and environmentally sensitive areas.
Several speakers stressed that Nachinola's rural character and ecological wealth must be safeguarded against indiscriminate development.
They maintained that preserving farmland, tree cover and natural resources should remain a priority over commercial interests.
With the resolution, Nachinola has become one of several villages across the State to formally register its opposition to Section 39A.
Apart from the TCP issue, the gram sabha discussed concerns over the proliferation of large-scale development projects and the increasing number of private swimming pools being constructed in the village.
Addressing the meeting, Sarpanch Nilesh Kerkar appealed to residents not to part with their ancestral land, cautioning that such properties are often acquired by developers for major projects that can alter the village's landscape and put pressure on local infrastructure and the environment.
Solid waste management also figured prominently during the deliberations. Kerkar informed the villagers that steps are being taken to operationalise the village's Material Recovery Facility (MRF), which is expected to strengthen waste segregation and disposal.
He also urged residents to cooperate with the panchayat by refraining from dumping garbage along roadsides and in open spaces.
The issue of road repairs was also raised by villagers. Responding to their concerns, the sarpanch said resurfacing and hot-mixing of internal roads would be taken up after the end of the monsoon, when weather conditions become favourable for such works.
