Calangute: The Calangute panchayat on Sunday held a special gram sabha to discuss a proposal to carry out a scientific study of the carrying capacity of the village.After repeated demands from the locals, sarpanch Joseph Sequeira said the panchayat had invited The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), a New Delhi-based organisation, to give a proposal on the study.Sequeira said, “The outline development plan (ODP), which was in force for many years, has led to overloading on the infrastructure. For example, the ODP gave 200 FAR. We approached the high court and got the ODP scrapped. But govt is still giving TCP permissions for 200 FAR.”He further said that the panchayat recently received six applications for construction licences with 200 FAR. “We have rejected them because HC has ordered us to go by the Regional Plan, which permits 80 FAR,” he said, adding, “Govt is not concerned about the environment or carrying capacity of Calangute, so the panchayat has to do it.”“We have received a proposal from TERI to study the carrying capacity. They have quoted a fee of Rs 22 lakh. This gram sabha was called to discuss the proposal, we will have another gram sabha on July 12 to make a decision,” Sequeira said.Officials from TERI made a brief presentation to explain the parameters of the study. “Once we give the report, the panchayat can take the next step,” the officials said.AAP’s Manuel Cardozo said, “There have been previous studies on the carrying capacity of the beach, but it was not done properly. TERI should carry out an honest study without any political influence.”
