the goan I network
MARGAO
A meeting of Raia villagers on Sunday has resolved to oppose any move by the Margao Municipal Council to use the acquired land at Raia admeasuring 30,000 square meters for dumping, storage or segregation of garbage fearing that it would destroy the natural green cover and disturb the biodiversity and ecology of the area.
The people, who attended the meeting, adopted another resolution, demanding the resignation of Raia Sarpanch and his deputy over their absence at today’s meeting.
In another resolution which was read by a villager Anthony Barbosa, the villagers also condemned what they called as the illegal development of an area presently occupied by the police personnel co-operative housing society. They have resolved to ask the authorities including the TCP not to grant any application from the police personnel on the ground that the access/approach to survey No 321/1 does not comply to the width as mandated in the building rules and regulation 2010.
The meeting was addressed amongst others by Raia Parish Preist Fr Conceissao Da Silva, Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, Curtorim ZP member Moreno Rebelo, ex-Raia ZP member Domnick Gaonkar, Curtorim Sarpanch Rui Menezes and his deputy Simon Baretto, Camurlim Sarpanch Basil Fernandes and others. Raia ZP member Fatima Gaonkar was also present.
Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco assured the villagers that he would not allow any storage or dumping of Sonsodo waste on the Raia land. He pointed out that though he has welcomed remediation of the site, he has made it clear to Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo about the public opposition to the storage of waste at Raia.
In his address, Curtorim ZP member Moreno Rebello said there’s no place for any one to play double or triple role on the Sonsodo issue. He said people of Curtorim and Raia have suffered much and vowed to be with the people to oppose any plans to convert the Raia land into another Sonsodo. He also wondered how the MMC could use the Raia land for the Sonsodo project when the entire land was declared as an urban forest some months ago.
Former Raia Sarpanch Xavier Fernandes explained the villagers over the move by the MMC to shift the Sonsodo dump to the MMC acquired land in Raia village. He recalled how the people had suffered during the week-long fire that engulfed the Sosnodo in May last. He also drew attention of the people to the land development, including cutting of the hill at Dagual area of Raia, by policemen by taking advantage of holidays and Sundays.
