Residents of Anjuna village are concerned about the 1,51,369.9 sq.m. of area which has been converted from non-development slope, grazing land/natural forest into settlement zone. This area with its rich bio-diversity is graced with all sorts of trees, medicinal plants and has been the natural habitat of wild fauna like monkeys, foxes, peacocks, pythons, porcupines etc. which has been preserved and protected by the local community for generations. By changing the zoning status, we are forcing them out of their natural habitat into the residential areas where they will be a nuisance and so cause the people to either kill them or take other remedial action. This is going to be detrimental for us, as it will adversely effect the total ecology, pollute our ground water, reduce the tree cover and thereby create grave damage to our beautiful village. Already large tracts Of field areas in Anjuna have been landfilled and transformed into ugly tenements, shabby restaurants (even though these fields were always set aside to be cultivated),and it is beginning to look like a slum . We are subjected to frequent power cuts (at times for 2 days at a stretch) and inadequate water supply, inspite of all the tall promises by the concerned ministers. As the infrastructure for water and electricity is already grossly inadequate, adding more consumers to this poor infrastructure and urbanising it will compound our woes and spell doom for our villagers.
Bernice Pereira Anjuna Sent from my iPhone
