Orlim villagers voice opposition to mega projects in low-lying areas

Orlim villagers voice opposition to mega projects in low-lying areas
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, APRIL 15
Orlim villagers on Thursday have conveyed a message loud and clear to the Town and Country Planning Department that they are firmly opposed to multi-storied projects coming up in low lying areas and close to paddy fields and water bodies.
In respect of one project coming up in the lowing area which acts as a duct to take the rain water to the neighbouring pond used for irrigating fields, Ida Coutinho pointed out that the  water is carried naturally and through drains gradually finding its way into the pond and then the paddy fields.
“Any construction will hamper this natural flow and either the water will move too fast resulting in water logging or too slow which will mean no water in the pond which helps irrigate the neighbouring fields”, she said.
The villagers also voiced their displeasure over the project which the builder and concerned TCP keep calling “development”.
 “This development has and comes with a very steep price since our infrastructure of water, electricity, roads and garbage are at this point unattended to. A project of any capacity will just mean more load on the present population”, the villagers maintained.
It was brought to the attention of the Town planner that a swimming pool  was totally unacceptable .
The STP plant was questioned as the garbage composting there was no guarantee of how long it would function and who would oversee this .
The town planner was urged to hold two site inspection one at present and another in the rains to ascertain the ground reality with regards the water flow.
 Besides, the villagers requested that this plan be discussed threadbare before any construction licence be issued by the Panchayat of Orlim and put before the Gram Sabha  .
The other hearing on the project building 66 flats with a swimming pool was adjourned to April 22 as the Town planner had to rush for another meeting in Panjim before which the builder as usual denied that the property next to his was Fabrica of Orilm and that he has been trespassing the same to access his property further he said his construction in the paddy field was totally legal.
The Town planner was told to Act on complaints made by Villagers and Patrick Cardozo of land filling in Paddy fields under section 17 A and book the builder accordingly.
As the builder was in a denial mode, denying the allegations made by the villagers, the villagers have requested the TCP officials to seek an affidavit from the builder to back up his claim on the project.