the goan I network
OLD GOA
The issue of non-availability of water since the past four days figured at the Corlim gram sabha on Sunday with people venting out their anger at the panchayat authorities for not taking action to provide water tankers to the villagers to tide over the situation.
The villagers opined that the government had promised that water will be provided to the affected areas through water tankers, but till date not a single water tanker has been provided to the locals of Corlim.
“What are the panchayat authorities doing to alleviate the sufferings of the people?” a local questioned, while stating that using well water is also not safe as most of these are contaminated due to construction of septic tanks close by.
However, Corlim sarpanch Shiva Naik said that he is well aware of the problem is himself suffering due to non-availability of water.
“I even tried to hire private water tankers so that at least 200 litres of water could be distributed in each household. But these tanker owners refused to provide water saying it was not economically viable for them to distribute water in households,” he stated.
“I have asked all panchas to hire two tankers every day and distribute water in their wards daily till supply is restored. But it again depends on availability of water tankers,” Naik added.
The issue of delay by the panchayat in conducting inspection-cum-panchanama of unauthorised installation of a mobile tower at Mollar-Corlim was also discussed with the locals raising suspicion that it was done only to pacify the villagers.
“How come the inspection was done four days before holding the gram sabha? Is it a mere coincidence?”
a villager Cleven Gomes questioned.
Though the sarpanch tried to explain that the delay happened due to the need for legal advice, the villagers refused to accept and questioned, “were nine months needed for the same?”
Later, the villagers demanded that the panchayat initiate the proceedings of demolition of the unauthorised mobile tower.
The villagers also resolved that henceforth the panchayat should not issue NOCs for installation of any new mobile tower in the village.
Earlier, the locals took the panchayat to task over conduct of the gram sabha after a gap of nearly 10 months.
Though sarpanch Naik argued that it was due to the enforcement of code of conduct, the villagers pointed out that many panchayats held the gram sabhas even when the code was in force.
The issue of garbage was also discussed at length and the budget estimates for financial year 2019-20 were also approved.
