The Colva gram sabha adopted a resolu tion barring projects with swimming pools in the vil lage citing worsening water shortages, and also forced the postponement of a proposed tourism develop ment plan for Colva beach after members objected to the absence of key reg ulatory authorities at the meeting. The presentation on the tourism plan by officials of the Goa Tourism Develop ment Corporation (GTDC) was deferred after gram sabha members protest ed the absence of officials from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department, insisting that CRZ-linked development proposals could not be dis cussed without their pres ence. Members said they had earlier asked the panchayat to ensure that officials of GTDC, GCZMA and TCP were present for the pres entation, especially since the area proposed for de velopment falls within the Coastal Regulation Zone. Gram sabha member Judith Almeida said that while the plan was being prepared by the Tourism Department, GCZMA and TCP were re quired to explain several aspects of the proposed de velopment. Members also demanded that the tourism plan be displayed on the panchayat notice board for public scrutiny. Responding to the objec tions, Sarpanch Tereza Fer nandes assured the agitat ed members that a special gram sabha would be con vened to discuss the tour ism development plan, with officials from GTDC, GCZMA and TCP invited to present and clarify the proposals. The gram sabha simultane ously took a strong stand against commercial and vil la projects with swimming pools, resolving that the panchayat should not grant permissions or licences for such developments in view of the village’s worsening water crisis. The resolu tion followed a propos al moved by gram sabha member Melvin D’Silva, who said areas such as Col va, Gandaulim, Sernabatim and Vanelim were already facing inadequate water supply. “Swimming pools are a luxury. When people al ready have problems with water supply, there is no justification for allowing projects with swimming pools. There is a project coming up with ten vil las, each with a swimming pool,” D’Silva told the gram sabha. Supporting the argu ment, Judith Almeida said water availability from the Salaulim dam had become uncertain due to exten sive hill development and warned that poor mon soons could further worsen the situation. She called for a review of all water bod ies in the village. The gram sabha resolved that com mercial projects with more than three units should not be granted construction li cences and that swimming pools should not be permit ted. Members also demand ed that the panchayat scrutinise pending licenc es of projects proposing swimming pools and verify whether borewells were being used. The gram sabha further called for a carrying capacity study of the entire village to assess the limits of future development. The issue of villa projects with swimming pools also triggered wider concerns, including allegations of an attack on a fisherman by a real estate developer from Noida in the presence of Colva police. Gram sabha members warned that they would not remain silent if local residents and fisher men were threatened or their rights compromised. Gram sabha member Eu logio Gomes recalled that he had first raised objections to the villas-cum-swim ming pool project proposed in the Colva fishing ward. Judith Almeida alleged that access for fishermen living behind the proposed pro ject site had been blocked, questioning how fishermen were expected to move freely within their own fishing village, and warned that the situation could take a serious turn if the panchayat failed to act. Other local issues were also raised during the meet ing. Members flagged a rise in theft cases and urged the panchayat to pursue the in stallation of CCTV cameras. The sarpanch informed the gram sabha that a proposal to procure 72 CCTV cam eras across all wards had already been submitted un der the 15th Finance Com mission and was awaiting approval. Members also asked the panchayat to consult the PWD to ensure that speed breakers in the village were constructed as per proper design standards, suggest ing that PWD engineers be invited to inspect them.
COLVA RESIDENTS SAY NO TO SWIMMING POOLS, QUESTION BEACH PLAN
