the goan I network
MARGAO
The gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Remy Fernandes deliberated on the contentious issue of mobile towers in view of applications made by BSNL and other cell phone operators to erect mobile towers for the BRICS summit scheduled in mid-October.
BSNL Officer Minigeorme, SDE explained to the gram sabha that the cell phone operator is seeking permission for temporary erection of three towers in Benaulim village for the BRICS summit. She pointed out that the temporary towers will be mounted on trucks and will be stationed at the Taj Exotica and near the Dando grounds.
The BSNL officer told the gram sabha that the people of Benaulim may take a call on the erection of permanent towers at a later date, saying “it is purely for the villagers to decide whether they want better mobile connectivity or not,” adding that Benaulim has no elaborate mobile network for want of towers.
Participating in the discussion, Rudolf Barretto pointed out that people of Benaulim should work out a permanent solution to the towers imbroglio. “Simply opposing the towers is also not a solution. We should know what is bad and whether people would suffer if there are bad signals,” he said, while calling for a solution after calling for experts to explain the people on the issue.
Jose Rodrigues said that the people of the concerned locality proposed for mobile towers should be consulted first before taking any decision while granting approval for permanent towers.
Nilesh Prabhudesai suggested convening of a special gram sabha to decide the issue, while Roque Fernandes called for a dialogue between the villagers and the experts, including doctors from the GMC before arriving at a permanent solution.
