Dona Paula residents resent residential projects

Dona Paula residents resent residential projects
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MARCH 6
The Dona Paula residents are wary of the onslaught of the residential projects on this plateau and surrounding eco-sensitive areas draining the basic amenities like water supply.
A group of like-minded people from the residential hubs in and around Dona Paula, ward number 6 of CCP, on Sunday met formally and decided to form a committee to address the issues that are critical to their well being.
“Almost 10,000 more population will be added to the existing 2,500 people living here in different housing societies, colonies and independent dwellings. From where will resources like water supply come?” Aanand Madgaonkar, a local activist, questioned.
He said that the existing infrastructure would come under heavy stress once all these projects become a reality.
The meeting that was held in an open space in La Citadel colony discussed the existing situation and alerted people about the residential complexes planned there, which would increase the population by almost four times.
“There are 11 associations of housing societies and colonies in Dona Paula. The meeting was to make them aware of what’s going to come,” Silvester D’Souza, another social activist, said.
The residents claim that there are several mega-housing projects planned in the area. “The IT Habitat project will have 14 buildings each having 14 storeys,” a speaker said at the meeting.
D’Souza narrated how then Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Babush Monserratte surreptitiously converted entire commercial area of Caranzalem, Taleigao and Dona Paula into residential spaces.
“The amendment to TCP Act in the year 2000 had a footnote which permitted all the area above the stilt to be used for residential purpose in the commercial zones,” he said adding that this backdoor entry was done at the behest of the builders.
He alleged that ‘this footnote converted the entire area of Taleigao, Caranzalem, Miramar and Dona Paula into an urban locality.’ There was a mad rush to buy properties in these localities and real estate went on expanding its wings.
“A decade later, the act got amended in 2010. This time around, only five percent of the places above stilt in the commercial zones were allowed to be used for residential purpose. There was strong anger amongst the builders, who had to apply breaks on their plans,” he added.
The residents, gathered questioned whether they really want more commercial spaces in these areas, which are already getting saturated.
Activist Ritu Prasad said that Outline Development Plan (ODP) of Taleigao has lot of residential areas allowed in the eco-sensitive zones.
Prasad said that OPD is a part of Regional Plan 2021 but unfortunately, Taleigao was one amongst the few panchayats which did not receive draft RP for objections and suggestions.
The locals now have decided to form their committee and work on the problems at the micro-level. “Each colony or association can come up with their own problems which would be placed before the committee and their redressal would be sought before the authorities,” Madgaonkar said.