Daijiworld Media Network - Margao

Margao, Jul 28: Tensions ran high at the Assagao gram sabha on Sunday as villagers voiced strong opposition to what they described as a systematic attempt to destroy the area’s ecological integrity. The flashpoint: the reclassification of forested hill land to settlement zones by the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department.

Residents accused the state government of caving in to pressure from real estate interests, warning that such "corrections" to land use threaten one of North Goa’s last remaining green villages.

"Corruption Disguised as Correction"

Local activist Ranjit Parsekar led the charge, alleging that two large hill parcels — Survey Nos. 69/1 and 101/1, totalling nearly 3 lakh square metres — were being reclassified under the pretext of routine updates.

“This isn’t a correction. It’s corruption,” Parsekar said bluntly, demanding that any changes related to forest land be made only with approval from both the Biodiversity Committee and the panchayat.

He cautioned that deforestation of hills would have cascading effects — from contaminated wells and flooded homes to a collapsed village ecosystem.
Parsekar also called on the panchayat to pass a formal resolution banning construction in sloping and ecologically sensitive areas.

Sarpanch Promises Action

Sarpanch Hanumant Naik attempted to reassure the gathering, stating he would convey their concerns to the TCP department. He also stressed that any construction based on the disputed section of the TCP Act — currently being examined by the Supreme Court — would be at the builder’s risk.
Naik reiterated that no further activity would be allowed without the panchayat’s review and community consensus.

Road Widening Controversy & Infrastructure Woes

The meeting also saw a heated debate over the misrecorded minutes of the May gram sabha. Villager Desmond Alvares objected to claims that he had moved a motion to widen roads — a claim he flatly denied. The sarpanch corrected the record and reaffirmed that the community’s previous stance to maintain the status quo on roads would remain.

Residents further raised alarm over potholed and sinking roads, questioning the quality of hotmixing work done recently.
Naik responded that temporary patchwork would begin shortly and assured that the contractor responsible for the sunken road would be required to restore it at his own expense.

Delayed Water Plant Draws Ire

Another concern voiced by villagers was the long-pending water treatment plant, which was supposed to be operational in February. Naik admitted delays but expressed hope that the plant would be up and running before year-end.

A Village At A Crossroads

As the gram sabha concluded, one thing was clear: Assagao’s villagers are in no mood to compromise on their green legacy. Their message to authorities was unified and urgent — protect the hills, preserve the village, and stop prioritising development over ecology.