the goan I network
MAPUSA
Strongly opposing the move to gag people’s voices, Bastora gram sabha on Sunday expressed disappointment at the decision of the government not to allow ‘any other matter’ at the gram sabha meetings.
Raising the issue, former deputy sarpanch, Andrew D’Souza said ‘any other matter’ gave citizens an opportunity to raise important events that take place all of a sudden.
“The government is trying to suppress the voice of the villagers at the gram sabha by not allowing ‘any other subject with the permission of the chair’ to be part of the gram sabha agenda,” D’Souza said.
Acknowledging the concern of the villagers, Sarpanch Savio Martins said the panchayat was helpless as the State government had issued the direction to all the panchayats in the State. “I am with the people. If people want ‘any other matter’ to remain in the agenda we can definitely consider it. But government has to take the final decision on it,” Martins said.
The former deputy sarpanch said that the government direction on the issue came only after gram sabhas across the State started passing resolution against transportation of coal and river nationalization.
Raising the issue of release of sewage water in open drains, a gram sabha member pointed out that every household in the village gave three to four rooms to let and these tenants leave the sewage water in open drains.
Objecting to this behaviour, Sarpanch, Savio Martins opined that open drains were meant only for storm water during the rains and people should desist releasing sewage in the open drains. “People release sewage water in open drains creating nuisance to everyone in the vicinity,” Martins said.
The sarpanch also informed the gram sabha that panchayat will not install garbage bins at open places.
