OLD GOA
Corlim locals have raised concern over inundation of fields with saline water and have urged for permanent solution to the issue.
The issue was raised at the gram sabha on Sunday with villagers pointing out that farming activities in the village are getting disrupted due to the problem.
Speaking at the meeting, a farmer pointed out that their livelihood is affected due to entry of saline water.
“We request the panchayat authorities to help us in resolving the issue so that we can undertake farming without problems,” the farmer said.
Sarpanch Caetano Po said that the panchayat has already brought the issue to the notice of the Tiswadi Mamlatdar.
However, panch Baptist Pereira said that very soon the issue would be resolved as a tender of Rs 5 crore has been approved to build the bundh, which has become weak.
“The bundh will have concrete retaining walls on both the sides,” Pereira added.
The issue of the panchayat granting licences to businesses and kiosks along the highway road was also discussed at threadbare with locals questioning the rationale behind the same when it is aware that the area has been earmarked for highway expansion.
“On one hand, the people are already fighting legal battle to save their houses and compound walls from being demolished and on the other the panchayat is issuing business licences along the same stretch,” a local pointed out.
The locals also stated that with the mushrooming of businesses along the highway road, traffic congestion is witnessed which leads to mishaps.
Later, the locals urged the panchayat to stop issuing more licences along the highway stretch.
The panchayat was also cornered over not holding gram sabha for two years with Covid being given as an excuse.
“Covid was applicable only for gram sabha but not for government functions,” the locals opined and demanded that henceforth the gram sabha should be held on a regular basis.
When the locals asked the panchayat to present the development works undertaken, licences and NOCs issued during the past two years the panchayat authorities informed that they will give details on the same at the next gram sabha, which will be held next month.
“Currently we do not have the details and we will produce the same at the next gram sabha which will be held before December 15,” panch Shiva Naik informed.
