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MARGAO
The controversial sewage treatment plant figured prominent at the Colva gram sabha on Sunday with the gram sabha resolving to issue a stop work order cum show cause notice after members in one voice asserted that tourism in Colva will face a death knell if the treated sewage water is discharged in the Arabian sea.
The issue generated much heat the gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Anthony Mam Fernandes with agitating gram sabha members demanding an immediate stoppage of work at the sewage plant pending inspection.
A group of gram sabha members led by Thomas Rodrigues raised the issue at the gram sabha, demanding to know whether the Panchayat is aware of the ill-effects of the plan to discharge the treated sewage water in the Arabian sea. He pointed out that an interaction with the Project Head of the contractor building the sewage treatment plant is clear that the treated sewage will be discharged in the sea.
The gram sabha members pointed out that no person will step in the sea water at Colva once they come to know that sewage water is discharged in the sea, raising fears that the project will spell doom for tourism at the world famous tourist place.
After much deliberation, it was decided that the Panchayat would immediately issue stop work order cum show cause notice on the contractor. It was further decided that to call for a joint inspection by officials and representatives of Science and Technology, Sewage Corporation, TCP, WRD, Sports Authority of Goa, besides the Panchayat, local MLA Churchill Alemao and others.
New police station opposed in Navelim
MARGAO: Plans by the Goa police to set up an independent police station at Navelim came in for strong opposition from the Navelim panchayat gram sabha on Sunday.
At the meeting chaired by Sarpanch Wilma D’Silva, gram sabha members not only opposed the proposal to set up the police station at the Navelim panchayat ghar, but adopted an unanimous resolution opposing the plan to set up the police station in Navelim village.
Members demanded to know the rationale behind setting up an Independent police station at Navelim when the village is not even two kms away from the Margao police station.
Sarpanch Wilma and deputy Sarpanch Paulo Pereira told The Goan after the meeting that the gram sabha was unanimous in the resolution that they are opposed to the setting up of the police station in Navelim village.
The gram sabha also gave its approval to the annual budget estimates for the financial year 2018-19, which seeks to lay stress on the garbage management in the village. The audit report was also placed for discussion at the gram sabha.
Velim: Gram Sabha to limit fishing vessels
MARGAO: In a significant development, the Velim gram sabha on Sunday has called for an immediate cap on the number of fishing vessels operating from the Cutbona fishing jetty, with members demanded that boat owners should obtain prior permission of the Panchayat body before operating a fishing vessel from the jetty.
In another far-reaching decision adopted at the gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Savio D’Silva, gram sabha members also resolved to levy trade tax on the fishing vessels docking at the Cutbona fishing jetty, saying that operation of the fishing vessels at the jetty amounts to trade. In another decision, the gram sabha has resolved to charge parking fee on all the fishing trucks coming to the Cutbona fishing jetty.
Gram sabha members further demanded to know how big size fishing vessels are operating from the Cutbona fishing jetty, when the jetty was meant for local fishermen. They pointed out that the Director of Fisheries should immediately put a cap on the number of fishing vessels operating from the jetty.
