Panaji: Old Goa villagers, during the gram sabha, demanded that a ‘carrying capacity’ study be conducted to ascertain whether new projects can be allowed.
Until then, villagers said no new real estate projects should be permitted in Old Goa.
Villagers passed a resolution recommending that the government undertake the carrying capacity study of Old Goa at the earliest.
“We have seen the Kadamba plateau. It has been almost three decades. There are houses and buildings but they do not have water supply. However, new projects are granted approvals,” said Glenn Cabral.
He said that capacity would help people understand how many resources are available and if new projects could be allowed.
A resolution pertaining to a 10-point Citizen’s Charter adopted under the stewardship of retired Chief Justice Ferdino Rebello was also passed. Villagers requested the panchayat to forward the resolution to the departments concerned, the Governor, Chief Minister, and Chief Secretary.
The issue pertaining to Section 39A of the TCP (land use change) was also raised. A villager speaking to digital media said that Old Goa has the highest land conversions and that the local MLA should take the initiative so that the controversial Section 39A of the TCP is scrapped.
On the issue of the Old Goa jetty, villagers sought police patrolling saying some miscreants create a nuisance. A demand was also made to write to the Pollution Control Board seeking an inspection of garbage disposal by cruise boats docking at the jetty.
Villagers also sought installation of CCTV cameras at the jetty location.
The issue of capping per-day charges of labourers was also discussed, with villagers demanding a mechanism to regulate rates as labourers sometimes quote high prices. Villagers also demanded that the panchayat should write to Old Goa police to conduct verification of labourers.
