the goan I network
MARGAO
The menace of drugs and migrants dominated the gram sabha of the Raia village panchayat on Sunday with Sarpanch Esmeralda Gomes making a fervent plea to the police to initiate action against those involved in drug trafficking.
The meeting chaired by Gomes also saw the panchayat reassuring the villagers that they will not turn a blind eye to the illegal road-widening taking place near the proposed police housing colony.
The drugs issue dominated the gram sabha after members drew attention of the Chair to the menace taking place right around the panchayat ghar and the adjoining football ground late in the evening.
After much discussions, Gomes and deputy sarpanch Mario D’Sousa pointed out that the Goa police should initiate stern action against all those involved in the supply of drugs in the village.
Mario recalled how former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had asked the people to provide information on the supply of drugs in the villages, while requesting incumbent Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to direct the police to nip the menace in the bud.
The issue of migrants also came up for discussion with members complaining about the large scale presence of migrants in the village.
Gram sabha members pointed out that some of the landlords are allowing even 10-15 tenants in a single room, triggering problems of sanitation and garbage disposal.
The sarpanch promised action by conducting surprise inspection of the premises leased out to the migrants.
The burning issue of road-widening near the proposed police housing colony at Dagual ward also figured at the meeting.
The Sarpanch made it clear that the Panchayat would stand by the people of Dagual, saying the panchayat would not entertain any illegalities.
She pointed out that the panchayat would have no problem if any work is carried out legally, warning that the panchayat would crack the whip against illegal activities.
The garbage issue was also discussed at the meeting, wherein the Sarpanch drew attention of the gram sabha members to the letter written by the panchayat body to the Margao Municipal Council
to accept the wet waste
generated at Sonsodo given that the people of Raia have to bear the brunt of the Sonsodo stink.
