Khola gram sabha reiterates support to Betul in fight against DefExpo
Say they want an industrial estate that will generate jobs
CANACONA
The Khola gram sabha on Sunday came down heavily on the panchayat administration and complained there is no progress on implementation of any development projects under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna.
The gram sabha also strongly objected to the DefExpo at Naqueri plateau and resolved to show solidarity with the people of Canaguinim of neighbouring Betul-Naqueri Panchayat by joining the agitation.
The members said they strongly support an industrial estate at Naqueri, for which that plateau was acquired by the government some years ago. It will generate enough employment for the unemployed youth not only from Betul-Naqueri, but also for people of Khola and other areas.
“Our village shares a close bond with the people of Canaguinim, in whose neighbourhood the DefExpo is being planned and people are not happy about it. We simply cannot understand why Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is hell-bent on holding this DefExpo against the wishes of his own people,” said a member.
“It can be held anywhere in the country, especially where huge tracts of vacant land is available in abundance,” added the villager.
Saying that there is no progress on any planned developments in the village under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna, the members took on the panchayat secretary for not ensuring NOCs of the concerned to enable speedy implementation of the projects.
It was resolved that necessary NOCs must be obtained without further delay, so that all the theme projects under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna adopted by MP (South) Narendra Savoikar are implemented expeditiously and in a time frame manner.
ZAO Canacona Shivram Naik Gaonkar addressed the members on Krishi cards and also gave details of various agriculture schemes with the Agriculture department.
Members also resolved to increase the size of multi-purpose hall for which Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik laid foundation stone last Sunday, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 32 lakh under MPLAD scheme. The resolution was taken as MP Naik has agreed for it, after people raised apprehension that the planned hall could be small and insufficient.
Residents also raised queries of construction of retaining wall at Shiroti along the roadside.
Sarpanch Ajay Pagui, Deputy Sarpanch Vanita Naik and all other panchas were present.
Freddy Fernandes, Mario, Sunil Pagui, ex-ZP Krishna Velip, Sadanand Dessai, Santosh Naik, Prashant Kholkar were among others who took part in the discussions.
