MARGAO
The Special meeting of the Betalbatim village panchayat on Sunday has resolved to demand a new Regional Plan for Goa to protect the land and its people.
The gram sabha also adopted another resolution demanding that the government revert to the earlier system wherein construction files were first sent to the panchayat body before going to the Town and Country Planning body.
The meeting chaired by Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes saw gram sabha members reiterating the previous resolution demanding that the panchayat place all the construction projects before the gram sabha for a decision.
They demanded that all upcoming construction projects are placed before the gram sabha before the panchayat takes further action.
Gram sabha members expressed concern that mega housing projects are being thrust in the village by outsiders when the villagers are facing water scarcity and have no proper road network and garbage disposal facilities.
Salcete BDO Pallavi Mishra said the resolution may have no legal backing, but hastened to add that the resolution can be sent to the government in the form of a proposal.
“If the government directs and gives the powers to the gram sabha, the panchayat can act accordingly.”
