Pomburpa locals oppose new projects with swimming pools in village

WATER WOES: A villager raises concerns at the gram sabha meeting in Pomburpa on Sunday, where residents opposed new projects with swimming pools, citing worsening water scarcity.

MAPUSA

Residents of Pomburpa–Olaulim on Sunday strongly opposed new projects with swimming pools during the panchayat’s ordinary gram sabha meeting, citing increasing water scarcity in the village. Residents said the area was already facing shortages and warned that such projects would put further pressure on limited water resources.

Raising the issue, resident Dhiren Fadte said even the Water Resources Department (WRD) had acknowledged the scarcity and urged that no new projects with swimming pools be allowed. In response, Sarpanch Maria Fernandes said the panchayat had already passed a resolution rejecting permissions for such projects.

Environmental concerns also dominated the meeting, particularly over fencing permitted by the panchayat on private forest land under Survey No. 29/1-C in Pomburpa. Villagers alleged that trees on the property were being deliberately set on fire to clear the land. Fadte said an FIR had been registered against the property owner and urged the panchayat not to allow fencing in densely vegetated areas.

Residents unanimously resolved that the fencing should be removed.

Biodiversity Management Committee chairman Alvito D’Souza urged residents to stay alert to environmental damage, warning that destruction of tree cover in private forests could affect biodiversity and wildlife.

The long-pending Hindu crematorium project at Golna was also discussed. Villager Vasudev Chopdekar said around 8,900 square metres had already been allotted for the project, but it remained stalled for decades due to legal disputes. He alleged that some tenants were obstructing court-ordered demarcation and sought police presence during the process.

Traffic congestion, poor road conditions and delayed restoration works were also raised. The sarpanch said the contractor had assured completion of road restoration by June, while residents sought action against transport of construction material after 7 pm.