VILLAGE VOICES: A gram sabha member raises a point during Assagao’s gram sabha of the outgoing panchayat term, as Sarpanch Hanumant Naik and other panchayat members listen attentively.
MAPUSA
With water scarcity concerns mounting amid below-normal rainfall, locals called for a ban on multiple dwellings and swimming pools in Assagao, urging the panchayat to protect the village’s limited water resources even as it fights controversial development projects and seeks the scrapping of Section 39(A) of the TCP Act.
Activist Desmond Alvares raised concerns over the proliferation of multiple dwellings and swimming pools in the village in view of the deficient rainfall this year.
Sarpanch Hanumant Naik said technical clearances were issued by the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department.
However, he assured the villagers that he was ready to join them in approaching the TCP and Water Resources Department to seek drought-prevention measures for Assagao.
Section 39(A) of the TCP Act also figured prominently, with villagers appreciating the panchayat for opposing changes to the village’s land-use character.
Naik said the panchayat had already written to the authorities seeking the scrapping of the provision, even before San Andre MLA Viresh Borkar recently visited the panchayat and urged it to adopt a resolution on the issue.
Naik said Borkar had pointed out several survey numbers in Assagao where land-use changes had been sought under Section 39(A), covering a total area of nearly one lakh square metres.
The sarpanch assured the gram sabha that the village’s character would not be allowed to change.
Villagers also congratulated the panchayat for its opposition to a dance club and two controversial mega projects currently being challenged in the High Court. The Comunidade has reportedly assured support, including bearing the cost of taking the legal battle to the Supreme Court, if required.
Repeated road digging to repair faulty water pipelines was another concern. Naik termed it a nuisance and said he would seek a meeting with drinking water department officials and villagers to address the problem.
He also objected to development works undertaken without consulting the panchayat, citing the beautification at Sonarkhet and a damaged height barrier at Housing Board.
He said he would write to the PWD seeking two barriers to improve awareness among motorists.
Naik thanked villagers for their cooperation as he prepares to demit office, with a woman set to head the panchayat in the next term.
