Goa

Raia villagers oppose Maina Curtorim police station on hillock by cutting of trees

They say they have been fighting for 30 years, attempts by government to dump various projects on the Church Fabrica land

Freddy Fernandes

PANJIM: Villagers of Raia are fighting a 30 year battle to save the fabrica land after a garbage plant, then a service station and now the Maina Curtorim Police station has been proposed, on Fabrica Church property. They say the tenants who cultivate have not been informed and there is a pending case on the place. Also the place is extremely eco sensitive and has springs, which led to the wells, ponds and the fields.

Tenants who are cultivating the land have stated that they have not been informed either by the Fabrica or by the government that their land is being acquired for a Police Station. One tenant Diago Gracias said that he has filed a case regarding his rights to the land.

All the villagers stressed that the location on the hill side is a eco-sensitive area and has a spring which takes water down to the lake and to the fields. If the spring is destroyed the entire ecology and ecosystem of the village will be destoryed.

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