Residents, including senior citizens, travelled in a bus to the Panchayat Department office to register their protest against the construction licence granted for one of the projects and to object to the manner in which the matter was being heard by the Director of Panchayats.
The villagers maintained that Curtorim’s carrying capacity has already come under severe strain due to rapid development and warned that additional large-scale housing projects would only worsen the existing water and electricity shortages faced by locals.
Congress leader Moreno Rebello later told the media that the people of Maina have been waging a sustained battle against the proposed housing projects, which they believe are not intended to benefit local residents.
“A bus load of people from Maina came before the Secretary, Panchayats to protest against the decision of the Director of Panchayats to proceed with the hearing in the absence of the Panchayat lawyer,” Rebello said.
He explained that the village panchayat had earlier revoked the construction licence following strong objections and protests from residents. However, the project proponents later challenged the decision before the Director of Panchayats.
“After the villagers protested, the panchayat cancelled the licence issued to the housing project. Subsequently, the matter was challenged before the Director of Panchayats. When the Director fixed the hearing, the panchayat was reportedly given a different date, which prevented its lawyer from being present during the proceedings. Hence, we have approached the Secretary, Panchayats seeking justice,” he stated.
Rebello further questioned the rationale behind permitting large residential projects in a village already grappling with basic infrastructure issues.
“For whom are these projects being built when local residents themselves are facing serious water and electricity shortages?” he asked, alleging that many of the proposed housing projects were aimed at outsiders rather than local Goans.
Villagers who participated in the protest voiced fears that unchecked construction activity would permanently alter the character of the village and place additional stress on civic amenities, roads and natural resources.
