MARGAO
The Nuvem Panchayat’s gram sabha on Sunday saw members raising a range of issues. Chaired by Sarpanch Freda D’Souza, the meeting discussed various resolutions and concerns.
Panch member Manuel Borges proposed that the Agriculture Department should compensate farmers for crops damaged by floods. He also called for a stop to land-filling of fields and water bodies in Nuvem.
The issue of dogs was discussed, with members suggesting the implementation of a dog licence or dog tax.
Tenant verification was another key topic. Members highlighted concerns about the village’s carrying capacity and tenants disposing of garbage on the roads. A proposal was made to create a tenant card and increase the garbage tax based on the number of occupants in each property.
The garbage problem was also addressed, with members urging the Sarpanch and panch members to identify households with migrants, as they are seen as a major source of roadside garbage. One member suggested imposing a prison sentence on those caught dumping garbage.
Gram sabha member Jose Roque Andrade discussed amendments to the TCP Act, highlighting their negative impact on Nuvem.
He pointed out that 68,146 square metres of land have been converted to settlements in Nuvem, one of the highest in South Goa, and stated that the village’s carrying capacity is already exhausted.
Member Zarina D’Cunha explained the history of zone conversions and proposed that the approach should be bottom-up. She argued that villagers, through the gram sabhas, should have the first say in zone changes, instead of the top-down approach currently adopted by the TCP department.
