MARGAO, March 31 -- Team Herald

As realty space shrinks in North Goa and land sharks turn their gaze southwards, coastal villages in Salcete are advocating a new approach to manage and regulate development in their respective communities. As opposition to mega projects grows - whether luxury hotels or large housing developments - an emerging demand has taken shape: village panchayats are being asked to conduct carrying capacity studies to scientifically evaluate what their communities can sustain.

In Varca, where gram sabha meetings have frequently featured debates against large-scale developments, the panchayat has committed to working with consultants on such a study. The initiative comes as villagers face challenges in blocking proje...