Team Herald
VASCO: Opposing the rampant land conversion in Sancoale, the panchayat demanded that the Mormugao Planning & Development Authority (MPDA) forbid such practice claiming that it may lead sewage, acute water shortage, power cuts and garbage problems.
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At a press briefing, Sarpanch Ramakant Borkar claimed that large tracts of land in the village are being converted which may subsequently be sold to builders.
“Recently, at the meeting the stakeholders of Sancoale comunidade approached the panchayat seeking its support to stop the land conversion. The Sancoale panchayat adopted a resolution against the land conversion in the village and decided to write to the MPDA to forbid such mass conversion of land,” Borkar said.
Borkar said, “Already the Sancoale has many residential buildings and further concretisation and development of plots by converting orchid, grazing land, traditional pathways and agricultural land into non-agricultural land will increase the burden.”
Borkar said, “Years ago, the large tracts of industrial land given by comunidade at cheaper rates, are being converted after a company changed the ownership and now wants to move out of Goa by selling land. Some private builders have bought the land and some have already started developing plots. This will further lead to garbage issue, sewage overflow, power cuts and acute water shortage issues in Sancoale and nearby areas.”
He said the panchayat has opposed to the further conversion of land in Sancoale and added that the local body also wants all four MLAs from Mormugao to oppose the land conversion and raise the issue with the MPDA.
The panchayat will also write to the MPDA and Chief Minister in this regard, said Borkar.
On panchayat seeking legal remedies, he said the comunidade will take a call on the issue as it is aware of the lease agreements, etc.
