29/03/2026
Urgent need for "Carrying Capacity" studies in Goa . Protecting Benaulim's Future: A Guide to the TERI Carrying Capacity Study
The carrying capacity study being conducted by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is a scientific survey to find Benaulim's development "breaking point." This guide explains why this study is the most important tool we have for protecting our village, our heritage, and our natural resources for generations to come.
What This Study Means for Us :
The information collected by TERI across all 11 wards will directly influence the future of Benaulim. Here’s what it will achieve:
A "No" to Mega Projects We Can't Support: The study provides a scientific and legal reason for the Panchayat and Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department to reject massive housing complexes if our narrow roads and existing infrastructure can't handle the strain. Development must match our village's capacity.
A Scientific Baseline to Protect Our Resources: It maps critical environmental elements, allowing us to enforce strict "no-go zones." This includes:
Groundwater Protection: Preventing over-extraction that causes saltwater to seep into our drinking wells.
Safeguarding Khazan Lands and Sand Dunes: Protecting these natural assets that are essential for farming and acting as flood barriers.
Managing the Tourist Strain: The study will calculate a Tourist Carrying Capacity (TCC) for Benaulim. This number helps us understand the true limits of how many visitors we can host at once without overwhelming our village life or causing perpetual traffic gridlock.
A Detailed Infrastructure "Gap Analysis": The findings will pinpoint exactly where our current services are failing—whether it's the power grid’s inability to handle peak summer loads or a waste management system that cannot keep up with the garbage from residents and tourists.
Preserving "Goenkarponn" (Goan Identity): Most importantly, this study ensures development is directed toward the needs of the local community first. It helps prevent Benaulim from becoming merely a real estate hub for second-home owners and helps us keep our village a vibrant place for locals to live, work, and thrive : Wilfred Fernandes
