Goa, June 22 -- Defending its green cover, Benaulim's extraordinary gram sabha on Sunday unani mously adopted two major reso lutions opposing agricultural land conversion under Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Plan ning (TCP) Act and the govern ment notifications targeting the village's traditional paddy fields. Explaining the provisions of Section 39A from a technical perspective, resource person Avinash Tavares elaborated on the provision's implications, the procedures involved and the con cerns that have emerged across Goa over its implementation. Tavares answered queries raised by gram sabha members, who expressed satisfaction with the clarifications provided.

Gram sabha member Rudolph Barretto stressed the need for objections...