MAPUSA
Environmental concerns over alleged destruction of private forest land near Pomburpa spring, suspected illegal sale of tenanted properties and indiscriminate garbage dumping dominated discussions at the Pomburpa/Olaulim gram sabha.
Villagers raised concerns over a panchayat-issued No Objection Certificate (NOC) for construction of a compound wall on a hill in private forest land bearing survey number 29/1-C, above the famous Pomburpa Spring.
According to villagers, a Hyderabad-based builder who purchased the land had allegedly been cutting trees illegally.
They recalled that the forest department had earlier seized a JCB machine and imposed fines on the operator and the builder following an incident involving the burning of trees on the property.
A complaint was also reportedly registered in connection with the incident.
Villagers alleged that the builder had returned after a few months and was again attempting to clear the forest, triggering fears that the activity could threaten the spring and damage the local ecosystem.
A local resident Direndra Phadte urged the panchayat to immediately inspect the site and register an FIR against the builder if the inspection established violations causing environmental damage.
The alleged sale of tenanted lands to builders and other parties was another issue flagged at the meeting.
A villager, Alvito D'Silva urged the panchayat not to grant permissions for activities involving such properties without first verifying land records and ensuring compliance with applicable laws. The issue raised concerns over the protection of rights attached to tenanted lands.
Garbage disposal and pollution also figured prominently in the discussions, with villagers complaining that waste was being dumped along roadsides and into the river. Plastic waste entering the river was a particular concern, with residents pointing to the once-a-week garbage collection as a possible reason for improper disposal.
To improve waste management, a proposal was mooted to increase the garbage collection tax to facilitate more effective collection and disposal of wet and dry waste.
However, the proposal was kept pending for discussion at the next gram sabha, with villagers agreeing that any increase should be considered only after a consensus is reached.
