MARGAO
Saying that urbanisation, multi-housing projects, commercial buildings and polluting industries have destroyed the sustainable economies of the village and caused large-scale displacement of local population, the Sao Jose de Areal gram sabha made a strong pitch to the authorities to conduct a comprehensive carrying capacity study for the village.
The gram sabha also resolved that the panchayat employ a professional to carry out geo-mapping or drone-mapping of the village under the supervision of the gram sabha at the earliest.
The meeting held on Sunday saw members demanding the study on carrying capacity covering the destruction of environment and the displacement of local communities suffered by the village due to unsustainable development in the past 60 years; Water availability and usage; Land use and agricultural sustainability; Forest and biodiversity conservation; Infrastructure (roads, drainage, housing, sanitation) and population trends and future projections.
Members pointed out that with increasing population, urbanisation, and pressure on water, land, forests, and sanitation systems, it has become essential to assess our village’s ecological and infrastructural limits.
In this respect, the gram sabha has urged the panchayat to take immediate steps to form a Village-Level Carrying Capacity Committee under the supervision and approval of the gram sabha comprising elected members, elders, youth, women representatives, and technical advisors; collect baseline data from households, institutions, and local sources; Collaborate with government agencies or NGOs to carry out the study.
The members have demanded to submit a progress report on this initiative to the next gram sabha within three months.
Meanwhile, on geo-mapping or drone-mapping of the village of Sao Jose de Areal, gram sabha members pointed out that the village panchayat and government authorities are duty bound to collect data regarding the physical, environmental, economic and social aspects of the village.
Meanwhile, gram sabha members staged a protest with candle lights at the meeting held on Sunday in protest against the police action of registering what they termed as a false FIR against the villagers, including then sarpanch, deputy sarpanch, panchayat members for stopping the “illegal” installation of statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji at Padri Bhat in 2024.
Gram sabha member Peter Viegas said the police have filed false cases against the villagers, while outsiders who installed Shivaji statue without panchayat permission and after trespassing into the fields of villagers have gone scot-free.
The meeting was attended by Velim MLA Cruz Silva, who assured the gram sabha that he would extend help and assistance in fighting the court battle.
