Call for protecting agricultural lands
MARGAO, MARCH 1
Davorlim villagers on Sunday have demanded scrapping of the draft Regional Plan 2021 and have called for protecting the agricultural and orchards lands from settlement.
At a gram sabha meeting held on Sunday, the members pointed out that the villagers have hardly any knowledge of the plan, with the TCP officials yet to explain the features of the draft plan.
A member Mahesh Nayak said the TCP officials are on record staying that even they cannot understand the plan and wondered what would be the fate of the ordinary citizens of Goa. He later proposed a resolution the scrapping of the RP 2021 and to maintain the existing 2001 plan, which was accepted by the villagers.
A lady gram sabha member demanded that the plan protect the orchard and agricultural fields, saying that vegetables grown in Davorlim are much soft after produce in Margao and surrounding areas.
Sarpanch Sandeep Verlekar assured the villagers that the Panchayat would remind the TCP to send a copy of the Regional Plan 2001 for the benefit of the locals.
The issue over mushrooming huts on the 3000 square meter Communidade land came up for discussion, wherein a demand was made to acquire the land to protect it from encroachments.
A suggestion was made to make Dicarpale a separate Panchayat body, but Sarpanch Sandeep Verlekar and his predecessor Martin Rocha said the proposal requires a deep study. The duo said the matter can be discussed at a special meeting.
A resolution was also tabled at the meeting to make the Panch members accountable for the illegal structures coming in their respective areas.
Sarpanch Sandeep Verlekar later told newsmen that the gram sabha members have unanimously demanded scrapping of the RP 2021. He said the Panchayat body has asked for a copy of the 2001 RP, but the same has not come as yet.
Verlekar said the Panchayat body would inspect the Communidade land at Dicarpale after a member alleged illegal huts and encroachments on the land.
Replying to a question, he said that the Panchayat would dispatch a fresh notice to one Nizammudin for demolishing a scrap yard.
