Team Herald

VASCO: Verna locals on Sunday demanded that the Sarpanch issue a stop work notice to the “controversial” project in the village. 

At the gram sabha, Goa State Biodiversity Board speaker called upon the members to protect and preserve natural resources and indigenous species of flora and fauna in the village. 

The members informed the locals that a controversial development has taken place in the form of a mini township in Survey 150 in the panchayat jurisdiction. 

The locals claimed that illegal plots are created on orchard land using concrete. The members alleged that heavy machinery is being used at the site and expressed fear that if such activity continues then the water table will adversely get affected.

When the members sought to know from Sarpanch Antonio da Costa as to why permission was given to this project, the sarpanch informed them that the panchayat has given permission only for a plant nursery. 

Locals questioned the sarpanch as to who provides a name such as Nagar to a nursery and asked him why there was a huge gate, security cabin and wide road marked when there is no access to the area.

Later, the Sarpanch agreed to issue stop work notice to the controversial project as demanded by gram sabha members.

The sabha decided to ban plastic bags in the village, as decided at the recent special meeting convened by the Directorate of Panchayats. There was a special invitee from the Goa State Biodiversity Board, who delivered an awareness talk on the importance of biodiversity and the functioning of the village biodiversity committee.

The speaker urged the members to protect and preserve the flora and fauna of the village. She opined that it is very important to note down the local names of the indigenous vegetables, plants, birds and animal species. 

She asked villagers to seek any help related to bio-diversity issues and called upon them to actively participate in the mission to protect nature and natural resources.