the goan I network
OLD GOA
Residents of Chimbel, on Wednesday, unanimously decided to seek opinion of experts to understand the Draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for the village.
The decision was taken at a Village Development Committee (VDC) meeting organized by the panchayat to discuss the plan.
Speaking on the subject, Govind Shirodkar pointed out that the CZMP is a new plan for the village and beyond the understanding of the ordinary people.
“Hence, there is a need to seek opinion of experts in the field to explain the same to the villagers in detail,” Shirodkar added.
“We are totally illiterate in that field,” Manifa Fernandes stated and informed that only experts can throw light on the plan.
Accordingly, it was decided that the panchayat will write to authorities concerned to send its representative to explain the draft CZMP.
It was also decided to rope in the services of Abhijit Prabhudessai who, the villagers felt, has been in the forefront in enlighten Goans on this front.
Later, it was decided to hold another meeting on July 27 at 10 am, where the experts would guide villagers on the draft CZMP.
Another local, Paul Fernandes, however, said if the RP 2011 is tallied with the draft CZMP, there is hardly any mention of water bodies present in the village.
“Therefore, it is important that water bodies mentioned in RP 2011 are incorporated in the CZMP,” he added while pointing out that the Chimbel lake, wells, ponds, etc do not find mention in the plan.
It was also highlighted at the meeting that a portion of Morombi-O-Grande, which is governed by Chimbel panchayat, is not incorporated in the plan.
Chimbel locals undecided over
Bainguinim garbage plant
OLD GOA: The Chimbel panchayat and residents have expressed mixed views to the proposed setting up of the Solid Waste Management Plant (SWMP) at Bainguinim in Old Goa,
A public hearing on the proposed project is slated for July 28.
Though some villagers welcomed the setting up of the plant as it would be a huge relief for villages like Chimbel, which do not have their own site for garbage management, others opposed the plant as they said it would pose a threat to the ecology of the area as well as heritage sites in Old Goa.
Some others welcomed the setting up of the plant, but with riders that waste only from panchayats in Tiswadi should be treated at the SWMP and mixed waste technology should not be employed for the purpose.
“If the mixed waste technology is employed and waste from talukas like Bicholim, Sattari, etc are allowed at the plant, it will end up like a dumping site just like at Saligao,” one of the villagers opined.
Later, a decision was made to lead a delegation of villagers for a visit to the site to get hands on experience in the matter and that too, before the public hearing.
