Residents up in arms over Tivim land conversion

Panaji: Residents of Tivim recently held a public meeting to examine structural changes introduced under Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning Act, alleging that a gazette notification had converted 52,000sqm of cultivable irrigation command land in Tivim into commercial space. The meeting was organised by civic advocacy group Goyche Fuddle Pillge Khatir (GFPK).

Architect and activist Elsa Fernandes said random spot amendments to regional plans were endangering ecologically sensitive areas. Fernandes also claimed that salt pans and mangroves were being stripped of their ecological identity in official records by being broadly classified as “no development zones”. “We elect govt officials as public representatives to cultivate and preserve our biodiversity and ecology, not to permanently damage and besmirch our heritage.,” she said.

Environmental researcher Avertino Miranda warned that unregulated money flows were weakening the traditional communidade stewardship system. GFPK president Jack Mascarenhas called for stronger grassroots participation in protecting villages and the environment. The meeting resolved to file an administrative appeal before the block development officer seeking a special gram sabha to discuss the issue in detail.