Panaji: Villagers from Palem-Siridao staged a sit-in at the town and country planning (TCP) department office on Saturday, demanding revocation of land conversion of nine plots approved under Section 39A of the TCP Act.They opposed the conversion of over 84,000 sqm, including hill slopes, alleging destruction of eco-sensitive and no development zones.The protest began around 10 am, with villagers, activists and RG MLA Viresh Borkar camping outside chief town planner Vertika Dagur’s office.Protestors brought utensils, firewood and mats, signalling a prolonged agitation.Borkar said four proposals received final approval and five got provisional nods in the St Andre constituency.“All the hills in our villages were cut and destroyed. Properties on natural slopes, in no development zones, orchard land and eco-sensitive land were converted because of Section 39A,” Borkar said.Police initially prevented entry but relented as the crowd swelled. Villagers entered the office, sang fugdi songs and raised slogans.“They troubled us. Can’t TCP officials work two extra hours till the file is approved? We were forced to save our village,” a villager said.Borkar alleged Dagur signed a revocation file and sent it for approval, but claimed it “disappeared”. “We will not get up till we get a decision in our favour,” he said, challenging TCP minister Vishwajit Rane to a debate on violations.
