The major projects proposed in the Calangute, Candolim and Baga ODP are likely to turn the coastal villages into a concrete jungle, feel some of the villagers.
The authorities claim the projects will help preserve environment, but the villagers are still unaware of the proposed projects and those who know allege that these projects will make the villages more concrete than before.
A local Neol Dsouza said, “Already many buildings have come up on agricultural lands due to which everywhere we look at we only see concrete. Though the projects, which are proposed under ODP as one of the major developmental projects of the coastal belt, we still doubt that it will help preserve the beauty and environment of the villages or make it more concrete.”
A local Jason Pinto said, “People have stopped growing crops and are more involved into converting fields into commercial land. We have heard that even the no development zones will be converted and made available for development. If this happens then whatever land or natural beauty exists will be wiped out.”
Ex-Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeira said, “The ODP was made without taking the panchayat into confidence. It was the duty of NGPDA to make outline of the village in consideration with the panchayat. The ODP shows even the illegal structures as legal and non commercial areas as commercial due to which we oppose this ODP. Also we have filed cases in high court regarding the ODP. Sequeira added, “Whatever development projects are proposed will destroy the environment because under this more and more agricultural lands will be filled with mud to turn it into commercial.”
Calangute Sarpanch Anthony Menezes says, “The previous panchayat body had not studied the ODP properly due to which they had opposed it. Our current Panchayat body is agreeing to the ODP since we have studied it taking the people into confidence. It is said the agricultural land will be converted but if that happens then we won’t support it. We are not going to allow any projects in low lying areas like the agricultural lands. Also the comunidade is giving its land for many projects and the panchayat will support them.”
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Water harvesting under ODP: Lobo
Face-changing Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Candolim, Calangute and Baga, which has been proposed for the development in the coastal villages, includes water harvesting project, broad roads, grounds, recreational centres, etc.
North Goa Planning and Development chairman and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said that ODP draft is ready while final ODP is yet to come out.
”All the public utility projects will come on either government or comunidade land. This means we get hardly 10 per cent we may require to acquire land”, he said.
“One of the very important projects proposed in the ODP is of water harvesting down the hill of Saligao and Calangute where springs don’t dry up even in the month of May,” said Lobo.
According Lobo, Calangute village can be self sustained with this harvesting project.
A shelter for animals is also proposed with veterinary hospital on the Saligao plateau. “Even stray cattle and dogs can be treated,” he added.
The second important project marked in the ODP is of a rehabilitation centre for drugs and alcohol addicts.
The plan also proposes an educational complex, separate mini stadiums for Calangute and Candolim, recreational centres, children’s parks, senior citizens’ park and lot more projects for locals, Lobo added.
ODP also proposes a parallel 25 metre wide road from Sinquerim to Baga to the existing road as the present road cannot be broadened.
It has also marked disaster management sites for both Calangute as well as Candolim villages.
The ODP draft has proposed multi storey car parking and a new hospital site for Candolim at three places.
”We have prepared this plan with deep study and proper consultation of the experts and tourism stake holders as we are looking for a development of more than 25-30 years”, said Lobo.
, who is also the deputy speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly.
