Mapusa: Villagers of Anjuna on Sunday, during the gram sabha, resolved to oppose any casino in the village and urged the panchayat not to grant any NOC or permission for such projects. It was also decided to write to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department to ensure grazing land is marked in the Regional Plan (RP).
Gram sabha member Ravi Harmalkar raised apprehensions about a casino coming up in the village. “We do not want casinos in our village,” he said and urged the sarpanch Surendra Govekar to pass a similar resolution.
Following discussion, it was resolved not to allow any casino in the village and decided to write to all authorities concerned, including the Home Department and the Chief Minister.
Harmalkar also raised the issue of stray cattle and sought details on the number impounded by the gaushala. The sarpanch said that around 10 cattle had been impounded. He said that the gaushala had sought land as it was facing space constraints. Efforts to secure land from the comunidade have not received a response, he said. Harmalkar and some farmers said they were willing to offer land.
On grazing land, it was said that none has been marked in the RP. A villager said that a resolution had been passed in 2019 for the same. It was resolved to write to the TCP Department to ensure grazing land is marked.
On the issue of increasing number of borewells, local Pradip Harmalkar said that around 70 borewells in Chimbel were recently closed following a High Court order and questioned permissions in Anjuna and their impact on groundwater. Villager Ramesh Naik alleged that borewell water is being used to fill swimming pools.
The sarpanch said that permissions are mainly granted for public use, but villagers demanded that the panchayat write to the Water Resources Department to identify borewells and refrain from granting new permissions.
The issue of illegal signboards was also raised, with villagers demanding strict action. The sarpanch said that signboards are removed but reappear. Villagers suggested designating locations and taking strict action.
