Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Opposition to the government’s proposal to urbanise 56 villages across Goa is gaining momentum, with the Congress party, local representatives and residents from several villages raising concerns over the move and demanding that the notification be withdrawn.
Congress spokesperson Amit Palekar has urged villagers across the state to submit objections through their respective panchayats. He said Congress block committees would take the issue to the grassroots level and mobilise public awareness against the proposal.
Warning of further action, Palekar said the Congress would stage a protest at the Department of Panchayats if the notification is not withdrawn. The party has alleged that the proposal is aimed at bringing these villages under the jurisdiction of Planning and Development Authorities (PDAs), a move it claims could pave the way for unchecked development and erode Goa’s rural character.
The Congress has maintained that the proposed urbanisation would have far-reaching consequences and has called for the immediate withdrawal of the notification.
In Santa Cruz, panch member Inacio Domnic Pereira and social activist Arturo D’Souza have opposed the proposal to grant urban status to Calapor. They urged the government to conduct a detailed study and consult local residents before taking any decision on the matter.
Meanwhile, residents of Chimbel have also expressed strong opposition to the notification. Villagers have appealed to all residents whose names appear in the proposal to join the campaign against urbanisation. They have demanded that the issue be discussed at a special meeting during the upcoming Gram Sabha.
Residents have also called upon MLA Rudolph Fernandes to hold discussions with villagers and address their concerns. As part of their efforts, they plan to launch a door-to-door awareness campaign to educate people about the potential impact of urbanisation on the village.
As opposition continues to grow in different parts of Goa, the debate over the proposed urbanisation of villages is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
