MARGAO
THE Loutolim gram sabha on Sunday has once again red-flagged the controversial proposal to set a waste management plant for the village and municipal bodies in the jurisdiction of Salcete and Mormugao talukas.
The gram sabha also adopted a resolution demanding equal status for Konkani in Roman Script.
At the extra ordinary gram sabha meeting chaired by Sarpanch Sanfrancisco Fernandes, gram sabha members shot down the waste management plant in the village, fearing that the plant will meet the same fate a la Saligao waste treatment plant.
Instead, the gram sabha members suggested to the government to support the local panchayat and municipal bodies in Salcete and Mormugao financially to set up waste treatment plants.
Gram sabha member Franky Monteiro pointed out that it is mandatory to set up a 500 metre buffer zone around any waste management plant as per the law. Saying that water bodies, including natural springs, besides residential premises are all coming under the 500-meter buffer zone at the proposed waste management plant at Loutolim, Franky demanded scrapping of the project.
Another gram sabha member Avind Menezes wondered why the government is planning to dump the garbage of the 30 panchayats of Salcete, three Municipal bodies, besides the panchayats of Mormugoa at Loutolim.
“Instead of spending Rs 250 crore on a centralised waste management plant, let the government support the local bodies to set up their own plants to treat the waste”, he said.
Another gram sabha pointed out that the government is rushing with the waste treatment plant at Loutolim for the massive residential colonies planned at Sancoale village.
Meanwhile, the extra ordinary gram sabha also adopted a resolution demanding equal status for Konkani in Roman script. The members pointed out that the government has neglected the development of Konkani in Roman script for the last 36 years.
The gram sabha finally adopted a resolution demanding equal status for Roman Script and to send the resolution to the Commissioner, Linguistic Minorities in New Delhi to mete out justice for Konkani in Roman script.
