Xeldem locals slam illegal development

Margao: Issues concerning hill cutting and illegal development of plots in at least two places in the village dominated the proceedings of the Xeldem gram sabha held on Sunday.

Villagers pointed out the illegal development of plots at Goval in an area measuring over 1 lakh sqm.

They said that the development was being carried out without obtaining approvals from the panchayat or the town and country planning (TCP) department.

They also highlighted illegal hill cutting at Shivnagar to facilitate the development of residential plots. They alleged that land was cut up to 10-12m for this purpose without obtaining any permission from the TCP department. They said that 40-50 plots were being developed and demanded that the panchayat decline permission for the project.

The gram sabha also passed a resolution objecting to any residential complex being developed on the land where the now-defunct Atlantic Spinning and Weaving Mills stands. They added that any mega housing project would lead to an influx of migrants and consequently alter the demography and rural character of the village.