Team Herald
MARGAO: Supporting the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) draft notification, the Poinguinim Village Panchayat gram sabha unanimously resolved to demand the retention of their village in the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
With 318 residents having previously written to support this designation, the villagers demonstrated a resolute commitment to environmental preservation.
The draft notification provided critical reassurances about continuing local activities. Existing and proposed healthcare establishments would operate normally, and there would be no restrictions on property ownership, residential house repairs, or extensions. The ESA would not impede agricultural, horticultural, economic, educational and community services.
The gram sabha members carefully noted the specific prohibitions within the ESA.
The designation would effectively prevent environmentally harmful projects such as thermal power plants, red category polluting industries, and large-scale mining or construction projects exceeding 20,000 square metres.
Importantly, the members were particularly supportive of the provision that the restricted activities were only related to hydel power projects and orange/white category polluting industries.
They resolved to proactively communicate their support, directing the Village Panchayat to formally write to key governmental authorities, including the MoEFCC, Chief Minister of Goa, Environment Minister and the State’s Director of Environment & Climate Change.
The resolution included a commitment to employ all necessary legal means to ensure the village’s retention in the ESA, with provisions to pursue legal recourse up to the Supreme Court if required.
In an additional discussion, the gram sabha addressed local environmental concerns about the Galgibaga River.
Members raised alarm about construction materials left behind during recent bridge projects (the KRC Bridge and Galgibaga-Maxem bridge on Manohar Parrikar Canacona Bypass road), which were obstructing river flow.
Encroachments along the river banks on both sides of the Galgibaga river were noted, with the sarpanch informing that the panchayat is awaiting an inspection report from the Block Development Officer (BDO) before initiating suitable action.