Villagers up in arms against mega projects in Cavelossim

Concern citizens of Cavelossim expressing their fears over the number of projects lining up in the village.

Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar

MARGAO
Concerned citizens of Cavelossim have sounded bugle against what they termed as a host of construction and hotel projects in the pipeline in the tourist village, with activist Priest Fr Eremito Rebello calling for a moratorium on housing projects barring single dwelling units for the local people.

Asserting that the environment as well as demography of Cavelossim is getting destroyed, Fr Rebello has urged Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz to prepare a master plan for the village with a further plea to save sand dunes dotting the coastal village.

The bugle sounded by the Cavelossim villagers assumes significance in view of reports that an ex-India cricketer had a year and half ago destroyed tree cover by setting vegetation afire and the recent incident where a road is being built in the no development zone.

Addressing the media under the banner of concerned citizens of Cavelossim, Fr Rebello said that so many projects are coming up along the stretch from Mobor to Cavelossim till Tamborim. Reminding that sand dunes have been protecting the village over the years, he feared that the village will be submerged and destroyed once the sand dunes are destroyed to make way for construction projects. “I am asking Sarpanch Dixon Vaz to prepare a master plan. Cavelossim is not even two kilometres from North to South. Pending the preparation of the master plan, the panchayat should impose a moratorium on constructions, except single dwelling units for the local people. Demography of Cavelossim is getting destroyed,” he said, while making an appeal to the village sarpanch to convene an extra ordinary gram sabha to provide a platform to the people to decide on the future of Cavelossim. “The Sarpanch says he is bound to give the permissions. He should do what the local people want. He cannot decide for the people. Initially, he had done good work. He should stand by the people of Cavelossim,” he added.

Saying the so called development talked about in Cavelossim is not development, but destruction of Cavelossim, Fr Rebello called upon the people to protect what is left for posterity.

Panch member Renku Lobo told the media that she had objected to sub-division of plots at Tamborim since the land plays host to two sand dunes. “I had submitted a written statement opposing the plot sub-division. But, the panchayat has given the provisional NOC,” she added.

In his address, Paul Lobo read out a list of projects that are allegedly in the pipeline in the village, saying Cavelossim will be destroyed and the demography altered if these projects see light of the day. “When we approached the panchayat over the road that has been built in the no development zone, people have been told that the panchayat has no idea. What can we do in such a situation? How can we protect our land from destruction,” he wondered.

Authorities yet to inspect road construction site, initiate action

MARGAO: Has any of the authorities so far inspected the road construction activity in the no development zone in Cavelossim village and initiated action against the CRZ violators till date?

It’s now days since villagers along with panchayat member, Adv Irish Passainha had highlighted how a road is built in a no development zone (NDZ) around the very same area which was cleared by setting the trees and vegetation on fire a year and half ago.

The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) had taken cognisance of a video that had gone viral on the construction of a road in the NDZ in Cavelossim, with officials saying a team will go to Cavelossim to inspect the site and initiate action.

GCZMA officials, however, maintained that the authority is yet to receive a formal complaint from anyone till date, saying no complaint has been lodged with the authority so far.

Incidentally, Adv Passainha had claimed during the weekend that he had lodged a complaint with the GCZMA over a year and half ago when the vegetation and trees were burnt down and the sand dune tampered with. He, however, lamented that neither an inspection nor action has been initiated against the CRZ violators till date.