MAPUSA
Calangute Deputy Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira at Sunday gram sabha announced that the panchayat had purchased a three-bedroom flat in upper Parel, Mumbai, costing Rs 2 crore for the benefit of villagers who travel to the country’s commercial capital for treatment.
“Many of our villagers travel to Mumbai for treatment of serious illnesses, particularly cancer. Sometimes they have to stay for days together and find difficult to get a place to stay. Calangutkars who need to stay in Mumbai during treatment can stay in the flat,” Sequeira said.
The flat is located very near to the Tata Memorial Centre, a popular hospital specializing in cancer treatment and research in Mumbai. Congratulating the panchayat for taking a huge step for the benefit of the needy, the gram sabha members requested the panchayat to name the flat as Calangute Bhavan.
The deputy sarpanch further said though the flat has three bedrooms, it will be later renovated to add more rooms so that maximum people can utilize the space.
For past several years, the panchayat used to provide Rs 25,000 assistance for any of its villagers who suffered from cancer.
A gram sabha member requested the panchayat to develop all “T” junctions in its jurisdiction as some people have encroached along the road widening areas and built shops which block the view of drivers.
Sequeira promised to demolish all illegal constructions that have come up during the election period without proper permissions.
Another villager raised the issue of growing stray cattle menace in Calangute and stressed the need of establishing a cattle pound.
The deputy sarpanch informed that the panchayat had approached many people to donate land for safekeeping of the wandering cattle but the plan met with little success.
