Daijiworld Media Network - Mapusa

Mapusa, Aug 25: The villagers of Assonora voiced strong opposition on Sunday to proposed mega housing and commercial developments in their area, warning that such projects would jeopardise basic amenities and disrupt the village's rural character.

During a tense gram sabha meeting, residents highlighted chronic issues like water shortages and power outages, arguing that large-scale developments would only worsen the strain on essential infrastructure.

“Mega projects demand massive amounts of water and electricity. If allowed, they’ll deprive locals of our rightful access to basic facilities,” said resident Vijay Benaulikar. He warned that unchecked urbanisation had already ravaged many Goan towns, bringing traffic chaos, pollution, and a loss of identity.

Others echoed the sentiment, including Advocate Sasha, who criticised the push for urbanisation. “These projects serve builders and outsiders, not villagers. Our panchayat must not grant them permissions,” she said.

The proposed widening of village roads to 30 metres under the Regional Plan also came under fire. “Our 10-15 metre roads are enough. Widening them will attract more construction and destroy the village vibe,” said Benaulikar.

Garbage management was another sore point, with residents pointing out the lack of a concrete state plan. Concerns were also raised over defunct CCTV cameras, many of which had either stopped working or mysteriously disappeared.

In response, Sarpanch Meghashyam Chodankar promised swift action, assuring residents that surveillance cameras would be repaired or reinstalled within 15 days.

The meeting ended with a unanimous demand: that the panchayat stand firm against external pressures and protect Assonora from turning into yet another overbuilt and resource-deprived settlement.