Villagers call for assessment of carrying capacity of Taleigao

Taleigao: Voicing concerns about “excessive” construction activities, the Taleigao gram sabha on Sunday called for an assessment of the carrying capacity of the village. The attendees urged the panchayat to initiate a comprehensive assessment of the village’s infrastructure capacity by collaboration with the TCP department and the North Goa Planning and Development Authority.

“It is essential to determine the maximum population capacity that Taleigao can sustainably accommodate and identify the necessary infrastructure requirements for the upcoming decade. As part of the planning process, you ought to first set the carrying capacity, or else the haphazard development will lead to destruction,” Adv Pundalik Raikar said. Members said they had concerns about high-rise buildings obstructing air circulation for single-storey residences and traditional homes, and high-rises also diminishing the village’s distinctive character.

They also highlighted that waste water from a construction site near a restaurant was being released in open drains and fields in the Nagali area. The attendees demanded that the panchayat conduct a survey and identify the houses that have no soak pits and are releasing the sewage in open.

The meeting was briefly disrupted by a few attendees who engaged in whistling and shouting, prompting intervention from the panchayat secretary, Gaurish Pednekar.