PONDA
The Bethora-Nirankal gram sabha on Sunday resolved to request the Public Works Department to widen the main road of the village, so that vehicles could move freely.
Recently, traffic moving on the Ponda-Belgaum road was diverted on this road following a landslide at Kerye-Khandepar.
During the gram sabha, chaired by Sarpanch Sushant Gaonkar, villagers while discussing on the issue of roads brought to the panchayat’s notice how the diversion of traffic had turned the main thoroughfare of the village into a busy one and impressed upon the need to widen it.
“Being a narrow narrow road, we faced problems when traffic was diverted on this road. Hence, it is necessary that the government widen the road,” one of the villagers said.
Speaking to The Goan, Sarpanch Gaonkar said that this was the only road, other than Ponda-Khandepar, which connects to Belgaum and hence the government should think of widening it.
“In future, if there is blockade on Ponda-Khandepar road, there will be pressure on the village road. Widening it is the only option,” he said and added, “A proposal will be sent to the PWD in this regard.”
He also brought to the notice of the meeting unscrupulous pumping of water from Dabal-Nirankal river. “The panchayat will ask the Water Resources Department to investigate into this. We don’t know how many people take permission for this,” he said.
The Sarpanch also touched upon the subject of acute water shortage in areas of Dattagad, Bondhbhag, Ashaawada and Padal. “Recently, we held a meeting with local MLA (Subhash Shirodkar) and discussed the issue. We have proposed a new water pipeline exclusively for
these areas from Curti,” he informed.
Secretary Vinod Shetkar was also present at the gram sabha which discussed several other issues grappling the village. One of these was the issue of illegal scrapyards against which villagers demanded action.
