Calangute: At the Candolim gram sabha on Sunday, villagers said that approving a 32-flat project with private plunge pools raised concerns, given the village’s inadequate water supply. They alleged that mega housing projects are being approved without considering the limited local resources.“How could the panchayat give a construction licence for a mega project when the existing water supply is unable to meet people’s drinking water needs?” said Glenn Fernandes, a member of the Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF).“Most large hotels and resorts get water supply through tankers or through illegal borewells,” said Fernandes.Regarding the proposed cricket stadium on the Candolim plateau, Fernandes said that the project is in a forested area. “Building a cricket stadium there would mean cutting down hundreds of trees,” he said.He said the project has been proposed by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC). He said the GSIDC has also proposed another cricket stadium in Calangute only because MLA Michael Lobo is the GSIDC chairman.“When Fort Aguada was renovated and developed, they said it would be open for the people of Candolim. Then it was given to a private company to operate. The football ground in Calangute has been given to a private company. Will the cricket stadium also be given to some private company?” he said.“It will be only for the people of Candolim,” said sarpanch Blaise Fernandes.Locals also raised concerns about sewage tankers repeatedly clogging narrow village roads while servicing hotels and resorts. The sarpanch said tanker movement will be allowed only between 10pm and 7am.The locals also said that despite complaints, site inspections and assurances, hill cutting is still going on in Saipem ward, and sewage continues to be discharged into the open, even by starred hotels.Activist Derrick Gonsalves said that a new building near Bosio Hospital is being constructed illegally without the required permissions, and the panchayat is not taking any action.
