Say gram sabha would have given villagers to clarify stand on plan
MARGAO
Activists cried foul over the failure by the Colva Panchayat to call for a gram sabha to discuss the controversial Regional Plan 2021 when most panchayats in Salcete and outside have had meetings to deliberate on the plan.
Colva Sarpanch Snowkon Gonsalves, however, said that no purpose would have been served if the panchayat had to convened a special gram sabha when the Town and Country Planning department is an authority on the subject. He, however, said that villagers can very well make their suggestions, if any, at the gram sabha scheduled later this month.
Activist Judith Almeida told The Goan that while many village panchayats had their special gram sabhas to deliberate on the RP 2021, the Colva panchayat did not deem proper to convene a meeting so far to discuss the plan. “By not calling a special gram sabha, the panchayat has shown its true intention. The special gram sabha would have given the villagers the platform to make known their stand on the plan," she said.
Sarpanch Snowkon, however, said there was no proposal received from any quarters to convene for a special gram sabha, adding that if some members want to deliberate on the plan, they can very well do at the gram sabha scheduled later this month. “When the TCP is the authority under the law to formulate the regional plan, the panchayat has little role to play. At the most, we can send the suggestions and proposals received from the people to the TCP for further action," Snowkon added.
