MARGAO: The government’s ambitious plan to set up a Film City in Loliem received a jolt as the Loliem-Polem gram sabha on Sunday unanimously resolved to reject the proposal and refused to allot comunidade land to the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) for the project or any other commercial use.
The gram sabha vowed to conserve the plateaus and take the fight against the Film City proposal up to the highest courts.
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The villagers of Loliem-Polem reiterated that they will remain united against any attempt by the government to dilute or suppress their demands.
It may be recalled that earlier this week, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had announced that the government plans to set up a Film City project in Goa under ESG. However, Last month, the Loliem Comunidade had taken a decision to allocate 250 acres in the village to ESG for a ‘Film City’.
A gathering of over 200 villagers were present at the gram sabha. The panchayat initially tried to block discussions on the issue on the grounds that they had not received any official correspondence on this project from the government or any private company but the topic was taken up following strong public demand.
The gram sabha then concluded with sarpanch Nisha Chari confirming that the official resolutions regarding the opposition to the Film City Project would be sent to the authorities concerned.
Chari tried to suggest that having 200 people at the gram sabha does mean it’s a representation of the entire village.
She said that when the panchayat receives a proposal regarding the Film City project from the government, a special gram sabha will be convened again to decide on the issue.
The sarpanch denied that she is facing political pressure when asked for her stance on the issue.
Earlier, the gram sabha resolved that the Loliem-Polem panchayat shall immediately issue letters to the Loliem Comunidade, ESG, Chief Minister, the Administrator of Comunidades, South Zone, Environment Minister and Canacona MLA enclosing the resolutions, requesting for compliance by immediately dropping the proposal to establish a Film City in Loliem and seeking all information.
It was also resolved that the Loliem-Polem panchayat would take all steps necessary to conserve the plateaus in Loliem and prevent the allotting of Comunidade land for the purpose of the Film City or any other purposes that are not for traditional uses of the village communities, and shall take the fight against the Film City proposal and for the conservation of the plateaus up to the highest courts.
During the gram sabha, the villagers alleged that the proposal sought to exploit village commons for private profit, potentially harming the local community. They expressed concerns about Goa’s limited film industry compared to other States, citing failures in Kolkata, Bengaluru and Pune. The potential displacement of local communities by hiring experienced individuals from other parts of India for the Film City workforce was also noted.
The proposed location on eco-sensitive plateaus was deemed unacceptable due to its potential impact on crucial water sources for the villagers’ survival.
The locals argued that the plateaus are vital for water security, recharging aquifers and supporting drinking and irrigation sources.
Emphasizing the panchayat’s duty, they asserted the need to maintain and preserve these community assets.
The importance of the plateaus as grazing lands, essential for local self-reliance and survival, was highlighted. Additionally, community-held forest patches on the plateaus were underscored for providing essential resources like fruit, berries, mushrooms, and timber.
Citing the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, villagers emphasised the panchayat’s role in rural housing and deemed it unsuitable to divert limited land for projects like the Film City. They acknowledged the plateaus’ traditional use for agriculture, stressing their role in ensuring future food security.
The plateaus’ recognition as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) in the Western Ghats draft Notification was noted, emphasising that projects like the Film City are prohibited in the ESA. The rich biodiversity and wildlife habitat on the plateaus, including endangered species, were highlighted, emphasising the importance of conservation for ecological reasons.
Concerns were raised about the environmental impact of film shoots, generating non-biodegradable waste, and the village’s incapacity to handle such waste. Villagers pointed out the potential strain on resources, infrastructure, and the increased population, deeming Loliem’s carrying capacity insufficient for such large projects.
