MARGAO: Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) organised a meeting of village groups in Margao on Wednesday evening, to chalk out a plan of action to stop the land conversions detrimental to Goa.
The gathering of concerned citizens at the well-attended meeting in Margao was first apprised of the negative impacts of the land conversions by Dr Sabina Martins, Convenor of GBA.
She pointed out that constructions in paddy fields will affect food security, cutting sand dunes and destroying mangroves for construction will result in saline sea water mixing with our fresh water.
Examples of further environmental destruction were elaborated upon such as the cutting of hills lowering the water table or the cutting of trees and Goa’s natural cover decreasing the oxygen levels.
Thereafter, Dr Solano D’Silva presented the overall land conversions in Goa under the Town and Country Planning (TCP) amendments 16 B, 17(2), 39A and the Ordinance. The changes in Salcete in particular were highlighted and it was shown that the largest amount of conversions were done in Nuvem.
Furthermore, engineer Swapnesh Sherlekar, gave details of the damage to villages where the influx of people from outside Goa have swamped these villages through ‘legalised illegal buildings’. He lamented that at the same time, Goans who repair their own houses are termed illegal.
In response, the village groups resolved to align with GBA’s grassroots movement to safeguard Goa’s land. They pledged to challenge illegal conversions through lawful means, vowing to resist
the implementation of ordinances facilitating such conversions.
