Heated discussions on civic plights highlight at Saligao meeting

the goan I network
PORVORIM

At the commencement of the gram sabha, an unusual incident occurred when a local fell off the seat after the chair broke. The irate villagers blamed the panchayat for not replacing the old chairs.
The villagers also highlighted that the ceiling of the panchayat hall is leaking, fans and tubelights are not functioning, while entrance door of the hall is missing, thus making it easier for dogs to enter the hall.
"The apathy of the panchas is responsible for the pathetic condition of the panchayat hall. If the panchayat can't maintain its hall, then how will it carry out development of the village?" a villager questioned.
Sarpanch Lafira Remedios e Gomes assured the villagers that repairs of the hall ceiling will be undertaken, while the panchayat hall will be renovated and new chairs will be purchased.
Pradip Sawant said Saligao stressed on the need for a sports ground. "There is no suitable place to undertake recreational activities for the youth in Saligao, and hence the panchayat should look into this matter seriously," he said.
Austin D'Gama said the Saligao Comunidade has issued no objection certificates to the panchayat on five occasions, but the panchayat could not decide about the location of the ground.
Bholanath Gadi suggested that the panchayat should write to the Pollution Control Board to make it mandatory for vehicles to cover the garbage which is being transported to Saligao garbage treatment plant as it emanates foul smell.
Pradip Sawant pointed out that though more than three years have elapsed, the market complex has still not been completed.
When Surya Pednekar questioned the village roadmap for Saligao, the sarpanch replied that the panchayat has decided to accord priority for the construction of a sports ground, children's park and setting up of a library.
Earlier, the sarpanch welcomed the gathering and panchayat secretary Lorencio Rebello read the minutes of the last gram sabha.