MARGAO: Buoyed by the support of Old Goa residents vociferously opposing an eco-tourism project at the gram sabha near the iconic Monte Chapel, the Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) has now urged people from South Goa to come out in large numbers and meet them at the Grace Church Hall Margao on Sunday and get as many signatures as they can in order file objections to send to the government opposing the proposed luxury resort.
The committee members will be present from 3 to 7 pm and have also encouraged citizens to email their own objections to ‘dir-indu,goa@nic.in, i.e. the email id of Directorate of Industries, Trade, and Commerce (DITC).
The campaign received a boost recently when the residents of Old Goa recently expressed strong opposition to an eco-tourism project sanctioned near the iconic Monte Chapel, a significant State monument. In a unanimous decision during the village gram sabha held last Sunday, locals fervently opposed the project and escalated their concerns to the pertinent authorities.
The villagers highlighted the project’s approval within the buffer zone of the Monte Chapel, emphasizing that the proposed location falls within a designated no-development zone. One local, Glen Cabral, adamantly asserted that such a project is unsuitable for the area, citing the potential destruction of the region’s lush greenery and the jeopardisation of the site’s sanctity. Cabral underscored the limited 3-meter road access to the area, vehemently advocating against the project’s approval in that particular location.
At the gram sabha, Sarpanch Vishwas Kuttikar echoed the panchayat’s opposition to the project and confirmed plans to officially lodge an objection with the Department of Industries on November 5. Kuttikar expressed dismay at the lack of consultation with the local panchayat before approving the project, raising concerns about the absence of information despite prior communications with relevant authorities.
Kuttikar further articulated apprehensions that the government might acquire land to construct a broader road if the project receives approval, further exacerbating the community’s concerns.
It may be recalled that Cabral had earlier submitted his objections to the Goa IPB, stressing the need for a thorough consideration of concerns raised against a proposed resort. The objections, conveyed through six key points, highlight issues related to heritage buffer violation, topographical challenges, non-conforming zoning, inadequate access, congestion risks, and biodiversity concerns. Cabral emphasized the potential adverse effects on heritage, the environment, and the local community, advocating for a more stringent review process to prevent unsuitable projects from advancing to public hearing stages in the future. The objections pointed out intentional obscurity of critical information and highlighted risks to heritage monuments, infrastructure, and biodiversity. The objections underscored the need for a comprehensive reassessment of the proposed resort’s viability, aiming to safeguard Goa’s cultural and environmental heritage.
It is to be noted that SOGAC has already sent their objections last month.
