Divar residents vehemently oppose eco-tourism project near church

A large number of locals attended the Goltim-Navelim gram sabha, on Sunday, to voice their opposition to the eco-tourism project planned near Our Lady of Piety Church.

Photo Credits: Manuel Vaz

OLD GOA

The Goltim-Navelim panchayat in Divar island opposed the eco-tourism project planned by the Tourism Department near the Our Lady of Piety Church.

The decision was taken at a largely attended extraordinary meeting of the panchayat held in a school hall, on Sunday.

Opposing the project, the locals said that the area was given to the Tourism Department by the Comunidade, the church and the locals to develop a park for the benefits of the locals.

"However, now the Tourism Department has floated a tender for development of an eco-tourism project and that too involving a private entity," former sarpanch Prasad Harmalkar informed while adding that this is not acceptable as the land was given for a specific purpose which is development of a park.

"Therefore the project has been vehemently opposed by the locals and unanimous resolution passed that the land be reverted back to the villagers," Harmalkar stated.

Speaking on the proposed project, Harmalkar said that as per his knowledge there are plans to build Swiss cottages in the 7,000 sq m land.

"One Swiss cottage can consist of four to ten rooms and there are over 70 such cottages planned, which means there will be over 100 rooms," Harmalkar said and added that if only two persons reside in one room there will be around 200 persons staying in the cottages at any given time.

"To cater to their requirements, they will have to build sewage facilities and the gradient of the area is around 60 degrees which does not allow hill cutting," Harmalkar informed while adding that the area is also an eco-sensitive zone which is home to a varied biodiversity.

"There are various animals, birds and reptiles found in the area and such a project cannot be allowed to come up there at any cost," he added.

Sarpanch Mario Pinto said that the panchayat is with the locals in opposing the project as the project is planned next to the church and also a temple is located nearby.

"The sanctity of the place will be lost and the Divadkars will themselves become marginalized in their own land if outsiders are allowed to invade," Pinto stated while warning the powers that be that the panchayat authorities will go to any extent to stop the project, even if it means leading an agitation against the Tourism Department.

Another local said that the tourists come to Divar to enjoy the natural beauty and not to see concrete structures.

"We want our island to stay as it is and the visitors can come here, enjoy the nature and take back good memories," the local said.

Meanwhile, the panchayat will send the resolution opposing the project to the Tourism Department and other concerned departments with a copy to the local MLA.