Team Goemkarponn
SALIGAO: The Saligao Village Panchayat Gram Sabha unanimously passed a resolution opposing Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act, calling for stronger protection of agricultural land, paddy fields, water bodies and eco-sensitive areas in the village.
The Gram Sabha was presided over by Sarpanch Lucas Remedios. Deputy Sarpanch Utkarsha Kudnekar, Panchayat Secretary Dharmendra Govekar and Panchayat members were also present.
The resolution was moved by Pradeep Padgaonkar, who highlighted that farmers in Saligao have traditionally cultivated their lands and grown different crops across seasons. He said it was the responsibility of the village community to protect agricultural lands, hills and other village resources.
Padgaonkar said several Gram Sabhas across Goa had already passed resolutions opposing the move and remarked that Saligao was late in taking the step.
The Gram Sabha resolved to reject proposals seeking conversion of agricultural land into settlement zones within the Panchayat jurisdiction and retain the existing protective zoning classification. It also called for detailed environmental and planning impact assessments before any future changes are considered.
The resolution further urged the Panchayat to oppose conversions under Section 39A, submit formal objections to the Chief Town Planner, explore legal remedies to protect paddy fields, water bodies and eco-sensitive zones, and forward copies of the resolution to the Chief Minister, Town and Country Planning Minister, local MLA and Chief Town Planner.
The Gram Sabha also resolved that standardised objection letters be kept at the Village Panchayat office to help residents file individual objections. It further called for no more mega projects to be sanctioned in the village and demanded a carrying-capacity survey.
Padgaonkar appealed to citizens and neighbouring village panchayats to form a united front against what he described as the dilution of Goa’s land protection laws. He also requested that the resolution be prominently displayed on the Village Panchayat notice board.
