Residents of Chimbel strongly opposed the proposed urbanisation of the village during a special Gram Sabha held on Saturday, with villagers and Panchayat representatives unanimously expressing concerns over its impact on agriculture, the village’s identity, and the financial burden on residents.
The meeting, convened to discuss the government’s proposal to bring villages under urban limits, witnessed strong objections from locals. Villagers argued that urbanisation would lead to the destruction of agricultural fields, alter Chimbel’s traditional rural character, and result in higher taxes for residents.
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Several speakers also alleged that the issue has divided public opinion within the village. During the discussions, some villagers criticised both the late former MLA Victoria Fernandes and the current MLA Rudolph Fernandes, claiming that Chimbel has witnessed little development despite being represented by them.
Chimbel Sarpanch Sandesh Shirodkar reaffirmed the Panchayat’s opposition to the proposal, stating that the village stands firmly with its residents against urbanisation.
“We do not want our village to be urbanised. A resolution rejecting the proposal will be passed at the fortnightly Panchayat meeting on Tuesday and forwarded to the Block Development Officer (BDO) and the Directorate of Panchayats,” Shirodkar said.
The Gram Sabha concluded with residents reiterating their demand for the government to withdraw the proposed urbanisation plan and preserve Chimbel’s agricultural heritage and village character. The Panchayat’s forthcoming resolution is expected to formally convey the village’s opposition to the concerned authorities.
