MELVILLE X D'SOUZA, Mumbai
This refers to ‘Storm brewing in Salcete over urban tag’ (TGE, June 27). It is encouraging to see people waking up and opposing urbanisation of villages in Goa. The authorities don't seem to want to understand the negative effects of urbanisation. Infrastructure projects everywhere are destroying the ecosystem and impacting the livelihoods of the locals in the region under the guise of so-called development. The coastal road project in Mumbai, for instance, has had an adverse effect on the region, impacting the livelihood of the local fisherfolk. What villagers need is only basic infrastructure, enough to sustain themselves.
The environment goes for a toss with the cutting down of trees and mangroves, leading to heat emanating from the concrete jungle all around us. And we are still wondering why we are not getting timely and sufficient rains?
