News Articles
Citizens garner support to save villages
Herald 8th May 2008: These certainly are not political meetings as one would
assume to be repeatedly taking place in Salcete's coastal belt.
But, meetings of small groups of anxious and worried citizens
garnering support to launch a sustained movement to preserve
and protect their villages from being destroyed and degraded
by builders with mega housing projects.
In a way, Salcete's coastline â from Carmona to Varca,
Benaulim and Colva â is playing host to meetings of local
residents to take the ongoing disorganised battle against mega
housing projects to its logical conclusion. Herald understands
that residents are being mobilised from village to village to bring
them under one banner to save the villages from destruction.
Towards this end, the organisers are meeting in the villages with
different groups working in the same direction and to organise
a mammoth meeting at Dando ground Benaulim by next week.
Sources in the know say, the meeting will set out an agenda for
the government and the local self-governing bodies on housing
and the needs of local residents.
These meetings assumes significance given that state-level group
titled Ganv Bachao Abhiyan is proposed to be launched shortly
to save the villages for posterity. "It is high time people opposing
mega housing projects are being organized under one banner and
fight the battle jointly", remarked a prominent social activist, who
has been actively involved in brining the various groups under one
banner.
He observed that outside builders are slowly trying to set up
projects along the state's countryside, especially the coastal belt,
taking advantage of the real estate boom.
"But, we local citizens are more worried about the existing
infrastructure, which is pathetic and inadequate to meet the present
requirements", the activist said.
Meanwhile, the Vasvado ward of Benaulim saw residents of
Tamdimati, Vasvado holding a meeting at Zarbo Khuris to object
to a potential mega housing project in the area.
The meeting was addressed by Benaulim Villagers Action Committee
(BVAC) activists, besides local citizens. A local residents, Michael
Rodrigues set the ball rolling against the Panchayat body for keeping
the concerned citizens in the dark about the construction projects.
BVAC Chairperson Geraldine Fernandes and Rudolf Baretto
questioned the logic of the three Panchayat members for seeking
explanation from a local Parish Priest. The meeting also hold a meeting
at Vaddie, Vaswaddo, Benaulim later this week. A meeting at Colva
village was held this evening.
