Once a scenic village of fields and fresh air, Taleigao is now grappling with the consequences of unchecked urbanisation. Residents say the transformation into a concrete sprawl has outpaced infrastructure and ignored environmental limits. With sewage in the fields and water shortages becoming routine, many fear the damage is already done
With Upendra Naik ( Video journalist ) , ANIL KUMAR MISHRA reports
Taleigao was renowned for its serene atmosphere, lush green fields, and proximity to the Arabian Sea. Today, those very attributes are under threat, with locals warning that the unchecked pace of construction has transformed the village into a ‘Ticking Time Bomb’ that demands urgent intervention.
Speaking to O Heraldo, Taleigao resident Dattaprasad Naik expressed the growing concern among villagers, saying the area is being rapidly urbanised under the guise of development. While the initial roadworks were welcomed as necessary improvements, it has now become evident that these were merely precursors to facilitate large-scale real estate projects, many of which, he alleged, have been approved without adequate planning for basic infrastructure
As a result, residents are grappling with severe challenges. Chief among them, the shortage of drinking water, inconsistent electricity supply, and poor waste management.
Naik pointed out that several housing societies receive no piped water at all and rely solely on water tankers. Moreover, the absence of a local garbage treatment facility means all waste must be transported to Saligao.
A particularly disturbing development is the contamination of water in parts of the village. This problem persists even as a new sewage treatment plant has recently commenced operations though it serves merely around 15 percent of the Taleigao panchayat area.
Residents fear the implications of future sewage treatment facilities if the current one already presents such issues.
He also took aim at the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA), accusing it of granting questionable permissions and jeopardising agricultural land in the village.
