MARGAO, April 27 -- Team Herald

In a striking act of grassroots activism, villagers of Betalbatim have installed a warning sign board, cautioning 'outsiders' not to invest in the village on account of severe depletion of local resources.

The signboard, which reads, "Beware - This village has exhausted its resources. The carrying capacity has exceeded. Builders, promoters, developers, buy land in our village at your own risk," has drawn wide attention and sparked a larger conversation about unregulated development and its long-term impact on rural communities.

The initiative was undertaken by members of the village gram sabha, following extensive discussions on the growing strain on Betalbatim's basic infrastructure.

Villagers say they...