Team Herald
MARGAO: After Sao Jose de Areal locals rebuffed the railway station plan, the residents of Sarzora have now followed suit and strongly opposed the proposed railway station in their village raising concerns about biodiversity loss, environmental damage and the lack of infrastructure.
The village panchayat gram sabha chaired by
Leona Fernandes on Sunday saw a large turnout of villagers vociferously opposing moves for a
proposed railway station at Sarzora.
It is important to note that this is not the first time the community has opposed the project. In the past, they had submitted formal objections to the relevant authorities.
The villagers raised several issues regarding the proposed station, including the fear that it would attract migrants, disrupt their cultural identity, promote unregulated commerce, and potentially increase crime.
They also highlighted the potential threat the station posed to the Sarzora Lake, which has been officially designated as a wetland by the Goa State Wetland Authority.
During the meeting,
a resolution was passed demanding unrestricted access to the traditional Sarzora Lake. The villagers claimed that the
lake has been blocked by the Water Resources Department (WRD),
restricting their access. They urged the WRD to
allow local residents to visit the lake between 4 and 6 pm for recreation and relaxation.
Furthermore, the villagers resolved to preserve their agricultural lands and prevent their conversion into settlement zones. They emphasized their commitment to protecting these lands for future generations and urged the Town and Country Planning Department to ensure no further conversion of agricultural fields into urban areas.