The serene and picturesque village of Moira, situated close to Mapusa is being targeted by the builders and developers of late.
Locals allege that the Moira village panchayat has been overlooking violations and issuing licences to new constructions even on the banks of the rivulet without maintaining the prescribed setback. Due to which the rivulet, sluice gates and bandhs of the village are in danger. Over 70% of the village is an island having water surrounding it nearly on all sides.
Coming to the other issues, few parts of the village is yet to witness the construction of rain water drains, repairing of internal roads and installing of LED streetlights. At the same time the village is yet to be made open defecation free and complete with the tenant verification process in another three wards. The procedure and formalities for the garbage segregation plant admeasuring 300 sq mts that is proposed next to St Xavier’s High School is in the final stages, which will help solve the garbage woes of the village.
The village houses a primary sub health centre and the Electricity Department has a section office here.
Moira comprises seven wards and has a population of around 4,000 odd persons. The seven wards include Povoacao, Pirazona, Canturlim, Novo Portugal, Raint, Calizor, Sataporio, Bambordem.
One can recall that the Sarpanch, Riya Belekar from the Village panchayat of Moira was voted out of office in May in a no-confidence motion passed against her at a special meeting convened at the panchayat office. The elections for the appointment of the new Sarpanch will be held on September 20.
When Herald contacted the acting Sarpanch, Oswald Cordeiro it came to light that they are looking out for land to construct a new panchayat ghar.
“Our panchayat ghar is small and congested. We are looking out for an alternate piece of land where we can build a panchayat ghar which can house a hall along with other facilities for the locals. The panchayat is carrying out door-to-door collection of garbage regularly. Presently, we have people who are doing the job on daily wages but soon we will give the job out on contract. Besides this works of building retaining walls, repairing roads and other words will be taken up post monsoon,” said Cordeiro.
The Chairperson of the Tenant Verification Committee and Social Activist, Florence Mendes told Herald that they will restart their tenant verification drive next week.
“The verification committee explains to the tenants the importance of undertaking tenant verification and encouraged them to do so. Owners who rent out their villas, flats and other premises are also requested to fill up or update their police verification form at the earliest. We have completed tenant verification process in four wards. By the end of this month we will finish with the balance three wards,” said Florence.
While the Moira Katrechem Khazan Farmers Association are upset over the alleged illegal constructions being carried out on the banks of the rivulet without maintaining the prescribed setback and have intimated authorities such as the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) three months ago.
They have also highlighted how this is detrimental to the livelihood of farmers in particular. The Moira Katrechem Khazan Farmers Association allege that the Moira panchayat has been overlooking violations and have demanded that the licensing authorities should inspect all the new constructions.
The Chairman of Asha Family Responsibilities and Rights Association Goa and resident of Moira, Rui Da Gama said that alleged illegal activity of not maintaining the setback is endangering the Moira rivulet and the RCC foundation footings are likely to make the edge of the river bank to collapse and block the flow of the river, as well as damage the ‘Manos’ (Sluice Gate).
“There is an urgent need to repair the bandhs and sluice gates as saline water is entering the paddy fields. This water is also destroying the wells and vegetation. Under the Panchayat Raj Act the panchayat has to have a public cemetery and crematorium. There is a demand for the same and land has been identified already. There is no sufficient drinking water in the summer and we have to depend on tankers. The permission for new complexes is further draining our water resources. Since there are no lakes or reservoirs for water conservation, there is a need to find a method to preserve water,” said Gama.
While a local from Moira, Michael Fernandes pointed out that the wells in the village needs to be revived.
“Earlier people were never dependent on PWD water or tankers. Every house or a couple of house had a common well. There is a need to revive and desilt the wells that are contaminated in the villages. There is also a need to prevent people from building on hills, as their sewage water can contaminate the water of people living at the bottom of the hills,” said Fernandes.
