TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Sao Jose de Areal villagers on Sunday demanded a ban on mega housing projects, contending that housing projects have altered the village demography by diluting the percentage of Scheduled Tribes in the village.
At the gram sabha on Sunday, villagers maintained that the Scheduled Tribes will lose benefits of many a scheme meant for the community as the housing projects threaten to dilute their population percentage.
The gram sabha also objected to the proposal from a builder for diversion of the canal network in the village. Members also took strong exception to the sewage disposal by a mega housing project in the paddy fields, causing nuisance to the farming community.
The meeting opposed acquisition of fields for the proposed construction of Konkani Railway Corporation’s second railway station in the village. Members also demanded construction of a road over-bridge at Nessai over the existing South Central Railway line.
Government’s plan to supply raw water from the Selaulim project to the Verna Industrial Estate also came up for discussion. Members reiterated their demand that the Water Resources Department first supply water to the farmers of Sao Jose de Areal before providing the irrigation water for the Industries at Verna.
Members demanded that the government set offices of the Tribal Commission, Tribal Welfare and other Corporations meant for the Scheduled Tribes in the South Goa district Collectorate for the benefit of the Community.
If mega housing projects are allowed, the Scheduled Tribes will lose benefits of many a scheme meant for the community as the housing projects would dilute their population percentage, said villagers
