Objecting to a proposal to convert 43,828 square metres of land, including a lake area in Davorlim, under Section 39-A of the Town and Coun try Planning Act, villagers at a special gram sabha on Sunday unanimously passed a resolution opposing it, threatening to launch an ag itation if the proposal is not revoked. The issue surfaced after the TCP Department issued a public notice proposing the conversion of 43,828 square metres of land into a settlement zone. Residents, however, expressed concern that the Davorlim-Dicarpale Panchayat had not received any official communica tion from the department regarding the proposal, de spite the implications for the village. In view of growing resident concerns, a special gram sabha was convened under the chairmanship of sarpanch Menino Colaco. The sarpanch clarified that the panchayat had nei ther received any official let ter nor any formal informa tion regarding the proposed land conversion.
Colaco said the matter came to the no tice of the panchayat and villagers only through media reports. According to information shared during the meeting, the proposal includes ap proximately 10,400 square metres of land identified as a lake area in Davorlim along with adjoining land parcels. The broader proposal also covers land located in Khola and parts of North Goa. Residents were informed that June 14 is the deadline for submitting objec tions to the proposed conversion. Villagers expressed disappointment over the absence of local MLA Ulhas Tu enkar at the gram sabha despite the issue being of significant concern to the community. The sarpanch informed the gathering that the MLA had conveyed his inability to attend the meeting. A large section of the discussion focused on the impact such a conversion could have on local communities, particularly Scheduled Tribe families who de pend on agriculture and cultivation for their livelihood.
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Residents argued that agricultural and ecologically sensitive land should not be converted for the benefit of builders and real estate interests. They also ques tioned how land recorded as a lake in the Regional Plan could be proposed for inclusion in a settlement zone. Participants emphasised the need to preserve natural resources such as lakes, water channels, agricultural fields and other environmentally sensitive areas. The gram sabha unanimously resolved to oppose the conversion proposal and urged the government to withdraw it immediately. It was also decided that representations would be submitted to MLAs Ulhas Tuenkar and Cruz Silva seeking their intervention. The resolution will be for warded to the TCP Department, demanding that the proposal be scrapped in the larger interest of environmental protection and the livelihoods of the locals.
