VASCO: Hundreds of locals from Sancoale, Chicalim and Dabolim held a peaceful protest rally from Zuarinagar to Sancoale plateau, on Sunday evening, opposing a mega housing project behind MES College.

Goa Foundation President Dr Claude Alvares and other environmentalists opined that such mega housing projects would have adverse effect on the civic amenities as well as natural resources such as land, water and air. “It is our duty to protect Goa for future generations,” they said.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Alvares stated that massive projects have come up wherein over 20,000 people would likely to be housed. This itself, he said, forms a new constituency. 

“Presently, there is no adequate water, fresh air for the people of Sancolae. What will happen when these over 20,000 people come to stay?” he questioned.

“The project documents approved by the authorities reveal that daily requirement of water for this project will be 2285.33 cubic metres per day (CMD), which is equivalent to the requirement of two to three villages from Goa. The sewage output per day is expected to be 1433 Cubic Metres per day (CMD), which will finally trickle down the villages of Sancoale, Chicalim and Dabolim and destroy the wells, ponds and other water bodies for life,” Alvares said. 

“Solid waste generated per day from this housing project will be around 2.243 tonnes,” he added. 

Captain Viriato Fernandes of Goencho Awaaz said that the protest rally was held to create awareness among people that “this fight is for the next generation to protect our nature, natural resources for future generations.”

The housing project will house thousands of outsiders and this will also change the demography and the serene environment. It will affect water supply and electricity; will generate more sewage and solid waste. All these will be difficult to tackle,” he said.