Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goltim-Navelim (Piedade) gram sabha on Sunday vehemently opposed the Tourism Department’s decision to declare Divar as a tourism village and rejected the government’s plans to set up eco-tourism project in the village.
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The Gram Sabha unanimously opposed the proposed mega housing projects on the island.
“Tourism is required but with limitations. We cannot outright say we reject tourists. There are many business establishments which will not function if there are no tourists,” said Sarpanch Mario Pinto.
Former sarpanch Prasad Harmalkar said there were tourists flocking to Piedade even when it was not declared as a tourism village.
“Tourists are still coming because there is a five star hotel here and other beautiful places around. However we don’t want Divar to be declared as a tourism village,” Harmalkar said.
Speaking to O Heraldo, Harmalkar said,” The moment you declare a tourism village then it must have some infrastructure which we don’t. Water trickles into our taps once in two days while power supply is erratic. The roads are very narrow and not suitable for large vehicles. We are already facing issues with the ferry services as well.”
The gram sabha also discussed the issue of inundation of fields by saline water and housing projects. Members demanded that any project having more than ten flats with swimming pools should not be given permission.
It is pertinent to note that the State government had floated a tender for the development, operation, and maintenance of eco-tourism project on 7,697sqms of land owned by the Tourism Department in September last year. The project with 20 Swiss cottage tents or eco-cottages, or a mix of both, is proposed to be set up on the Divar hillock in close proximity to a church, cemetery and temple.
The gram sabha was held after the High Court of passed an order directing the Village Panchayat to hold the meeting.
