A view of of the section of crowd at the Raia meeting on Thursday.
A public awareness meeting held on Thursday at Raia has called for the protection of Goa’s Land, Rivers and Heritage
The meeeting brought together concerned citizens from Raia, Rachol, Camorlim and Loutolim to deliberate on the growing challenges facing Goa’s land, environment and traditional village systems.
The meeting commenced with a minute of silence in memory of late Diana Tavares, a committed environmental activist who worked tirelessly for the protection of Goa.
Setting the tone for the evening, Dennis and his team presented a musical performance reflecting the current situation in Goa, highlighting concerns over environmental degradation and unplanned development.
The programme featured insightful audio-visual presentations by Jack Mascarenhas and Hector Fernandes, focusing on the environmental challenges confronting Goa and the importance of preserving the Comunidade system as a vital institution of Goan heritage.
Sandesh Prabhudesai, senior journalist and representative of Enough Is Enough, delivered the keynote address, outlining the movement’s 10-point charter of demands and emphasising the urgent need for collective citizen action.
Engr Roque Virgilio Mascarenhas, President of TRUST US Charitable Trust, addressed the gathering and explained the purpose of organising the meeting, stressing the importance of awareness, unity and responsible participation of citizens in safeguarding Goa’s future. He also read out a set of resolutions, which were unanimously approved by a large number of attendees.
The meeting adopted resolutions to oppose the indiscriminate land conversion and projects harming village ecology; safeguard comunidade lands through transparency and accountability; protect rivers, khazan lands and natural resources from pollution and encroachment.
The meeting demanded transparency and public participation in planning decisions; ensure strict enforcement of environmental laws, including CRZ norms and to form a Joint Citizens’ Committee representing Raia, Rachol, Camorlim and Loutolim
The meeting concluded with a strong and unified commitment from citizens to work collectively for the protection of Goa’s environment, heritage and future generations.
