There has been widespread opposition to the regional plan across all the panchayats of Canacona taluka. Khola village panchayat in particular has completely rejected the regional plan.
“The notified RP 2021 for Khola village, unless corrected, shall crush the aspirations and economies of the locals and displace them, since the limited village resources are being demarcated for unsustainable economic activities, which are also unsuitable for this highly eco-sensitive land,” read the letter sent by the villagers to the Town and Country Planning Department (TCP).
Their representation was based on a preliminary study of the notified RP 2021 ‘Plan for Khola village’. A detailed study of this plan could be carried out due to lack of time. They had demanded that the time period for people to comment/object to the plan be increased by at least 2 months so that all panchayats and concerned citizens can give constructive suggestions, or point out serious mistakes.
They listed 23 broad objections with survey numbers that essentially indicated where settlement zone has been added under eco-sensitive and CRZ area along the banks of the river. There were settlement zones that have been added in areas where there are no existing structures. A play ground has been shown with a proposed road bisecting the playground. Then there is a new settlement zone market which is highly disproportionate to the existing settlement. A proposed 10 meters road which leads to survey 33, deep into the forest is questionable. Besides raising questions about specific settlement zones, they gave the example of how land in a thick forest area and fields have been converted into settlement zones whereas existing houses are not shown in the plan. They point out that an existing quarry does not reflect in the plan as well as an existing village road. In another case, a settlement zone has been shown under eco-sensitive and CRZ area. There is also a huge settlement zone marked on either side of the proposed roads when there is no existing settlement and they have alleged vested interest and lead to development of mega projects. Similarly, there is a huge settlement zone added on hilly terrain where there is no existing settlement. “Huge settlement zone marked along the major district road and in another case a large settlement zone has been marked very close to the archaeological site and an existing church inside the fort has not been shown,” said villagers. They have also questioned why a settlement zone has been marked inside the fort that is protected by ASI and said that there are more instances that have left the villagers confused.
“We believe that the above examples are sufficient to convince you to take immediate action to correct the RP 2021 for Khola village panchayat in terms of these errors and other that you may identify. We expect that these corrections shall be carried out within a reasonable time frame, to be conveyed to us, failing which we shall be forced to consider all options to protect our village from the calamity you have planned for our people,” read the villagers memorandum to the TCP.
