the goan I network
MARGAO
The government’s controversial notification notifying 56 villages as urban areas had its echo at the Curtorim gram sabha on Sunday.
At the gram sabha meeting held on Sunday under the Chairmanship of Sarpanch Rui Menezes, the notification came under strong opposition from the members, who immediately demanded the scrapping of the notification including Curtorim village as an urban area.
Members raised their fears and apprehensions that notifying Curtorim as an urban area will force the villagers to pay higher taxes on par with the urban bodies.
They also pointed out that converting Curtorim as an urban area will take away the rural characteristics of the village, which is known as the granary of Salcete because of widespread agricultural activity practices in the village.
The panchayat body had earlier adopted a resolution opposing the notification to include Curtorim in the notification, wherein 56 villages were shown as urban areas.
Sarpanch Rui Menezes later told The Goan that the gram sabha has adopted an unanimous resolution to oppose the notification, with members in one voice opposing the proposal to include Curtorim as an urban area. He said the gram sabha has taken a decision requesting the Panchayat body to forward the resolution to the district Collector- South, Director of Panchayats and other government authorities expressing total opposition to the urban area proposal.
“Curtorim is well known for its agricultural fields, lakes, hills and other water bodies. The proposal to include the village as an urban area will change the characteristics of the village,” he said.
The Sarpanch further informed that the gram sabha members have further decided to hold a public meeting in the village to spread awareness amongst the villagers and to brace for an agitation.
“Under no circumstances will the villagers accept the notification,” Rui warned, adding the panchayat will immediately forward the resolutions to the government.
The gram sabha also deliberated on garbage tax proposed to be levied on households to meet the huge cost of the garbage collection activity.
The Sarpanch informed that the panchayat had proposed to levy on households garbage tax amounting to Rs 200, which has been opposed by the people.
The Sarpanch also informed the locals that the panchayat’s request 3000 sqmts of land on property belonging to Leprosy hospital to set up waste management stands rejected by the government. This prompted some members to launch an agitation on the issue.
