Raia residents oppose mega housing project http://www.oheraldo.in/news/Local%20News/Raia%20residents%20oppose%20mega%20housing%20project/32941.html HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JAN 31 Residents of Manora in Raia village have resolved to oppose a mega housing project coming up in the locality saying the proposed project is against the interests of the villagers and the farmers dependent on agriculture. The residents received a big boost to their agitation as local MLA Reginaldo Lourenco has offered his full support to the movement. At a public meeting held at Manora on Sunday, the Curtorim MLA rallied behind the agitating residents, saying the project would spell doom for agriculture and the Manora tank, which supplied water not only for irrigation, but has helped vegetation in the entire area. “Fields and vegetable will be at stake if the project is allowed to take shape”, Lourenco said, adding that the builder should ensure that the project does not go against the interests of the local people and the farming community. Saying that Manora ward is ST dominated, the MLA urged the people to continue cultivation of the agricultural fields. At the meeting, the villagers said the village will not be able to sustain a major project due to poor infrastructure such as water and power supply, sewage etc, adding that the project would spell doom for agriculture. Saying that the Sarpanch has issued an NOC to the project based on an order from the Additional Panchayat Director, the villagers reminded the Sarpanch that the NOC issued by the Panchayat is against the law saying the Panchayat has failed to follow the high court order on the setting up garbage treatment plant in the village. The villagers claimed that the project makes no mention of rain water management, adding that the project is entirely commercial which may bring in hordes of outsiders in the village. Saying that the project would result in ground water contamination, the meeting raised apprehensions that the farmers and the villagers will suffer as a result of contamination of agricultural fields. -- Please post your comments on my Blog: http://goanidentity.blogspot.com/ Please also see below: 1. Benaulim Village Action Committee: http://www.bvacbenaulim.blogspot.com/ 2. "Rape of Goa" : http://www.parrikar.com/blog/the-rape-of-goa/ 3. MAND - an adivasi-rights resource centre : http://mandgoa.blogspot.com/ 4. EVERY GOAN SHOULD SEE THIS VIDEO: http://infochangeindia.org/Infochange-documentary.html 5. For the Love of Konkani: http://www.radiogoa.net/ 6. Goa's Identity Movement website: http://www.goamag.net/gim 7. Goa's Identity Movement group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com//#/group.php?gid=193497031686 8. Official Government Site NRI Office (GOA): http://www.globalgoans.org.in/
