the goan I network
MAPUSA
Aldona Sarpanch Francis D’Souza informed the gram sabha on Sunday that the panchayat will soon hold a special gram sabha to discuss in detail the proposal of Captain of Ports (CoP) to set up a passenger jetty in Aldona.
The sarpanch tabled before the gram sabha a letter received from CoP where it has agreed to explain to people of Aldona about the entire project of the passenger jetty.
“The CoP replied to our letter allaying our doubts and stating that the plan was to construct a passenger jetty in Aldona and they would come and explain about the
entire project in detail to the people in the village,” D’Souza said.
He said the panchayat will hold a special gram sabha where the CoP officials will be invited to explain to the people about the jetty proposal.
Former sarpanch, Deepak Naik told The Goan that the CoP had written to the panchayat about the proposal of constructing a passenger jetty some days ago.
Naik said the panchayat in its fortnightly meeting had discussed the CoP letter in detail and unanimously decided that the panchayat will not oppose a passenger jetty but in no way it will allow transportation of coal on the jetty.
“The people will always oppose a coal jetty in Aldona. But we are not against a passenger jetty. It should not hurt the interests of local fishing community and offer job opportunities to the youth,” the former sarpanch said.
Nine new jetties under the Central government’s Sagarmala project have been approved for the State one of which was to come up in Aldona.
Captain of Ports was supposed to conduct detailed project report and environment impact assessment studies on the jetties.
It may be recalled Goencho Avaaz had raised the dust about government’s plan to construct a jetty in Aldona ostensibly for coal transportation.
The Sunday’s gram sabha also discussed and unanimously passed some proposals to honour the contribution of past teachers of Aldona.
A local, Savio Figueiredo had moved a proposal to name a road in the village in the name of late Margaret who was a teacher par excellence.
He also put up a proposal for construction of a bus shelter near the St Thomas Girl’s High School and developing of the open space in front of teacher Margaret’s house.
The sarpanch, Francis D’Souza said all the three proposals were passed in principle by the gram sabha and appropriate decision will be taken in the matter by taking all into confidence.
