Team Herald
MARGAO: The Loliem-Polem Gram Sabha has unanimously adopted two vital resolutions aimed at safeguarding the village and its residents for future generations. The first resolution calls for Loliem village to be retained as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) within the Western Ghats, while the second resolution prohibits any land use conversions or zoning changes on the village plateaus.
These resolutions were passed in the presence of over 100 villagers, especially important amid speculation that the village might be excluded from the ESA list pending Central government approval based on State government recommendations.
Discussions during the Gram Sabha centred on a recent notification from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC). Members pointed out that 311 residents had previously submitted a letter to MOEF&CC pushing for Loliem's continued inclusion in the Western Ghats ESA.
The draft ESA notification clarifies ongoing activities within the protected area, allowing existing healthcare establishments to continue operating and permitting the establishment of proposed Primary Health Centres in accordance with current laws. Importantly, residents' property rights are maintained, enabling ownership transfers and the legal repair, extension, or renovation of existing residential structures.
The resolution to retain Loliem as an ESA also ensures oversight of industrial activities, with restrictions on hydel power projects and orange/white category polluting industries, which are seen as beneficial rather than burdensome to local communities. The Gram Sabha mandates the Village Panchayat of Loliem-Polem to communicate with relevant authorities, including MOEF&CC and Goa's Chief Minister, to ensure effective implementation. The Panchayat is empowered to pursue legal action, including potential Supreme Court interventions, to secure Loliem's ESA inclusion.
The second resolution addresses concerns regarding attempts by various entities, including the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), hoteliers, and builders, to convert plateau lands for non-agricultural purposes. Villagers expressed that such actions could have severe consequences for the eco-sensitive village, given its existing water scarcity issues.
Concerns were raised regarding the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department's handling of zone changes under amendments to the TCP Act. They specifically highlighted the inclusion of plateau areas as Eco-Tourism zones in the RP 2021 as potentially “disastrous” for the village’s future.