the goan I network
MAPUSA
Chaotic scenes prevailed in Candolim gram sabha as discussion on lack of parking and Calangute-Candolim Outline Development Plan (ODP) dominated the proceedings at the Sunday's meet, the first in the village after panchayat elections.
Raising a host of questions on the ODP, some members informed that eco-sensitive zones and forest land were not shown on the plan.
Some others pointed out that the panchayat had issued licences to at least 13 hotels on hills and low-lying areas.
Damian Teles said agricultural fields were shown as settlement zones in the ODP, while permissions were issued to hotels without proper parking facility.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, who was present for the gram sabha, tried to do some firefighting and finally announced that a special gram sabha will be held in September to discuss on the ODP issue.
Locals informed that lack of parking was turning out to be a huge problem in the village, as people had
to park their vehicles either at their neighbour's place or on roads.
"It's becoming increasingly dangerous for children to walk even on internal roads. People park vehicles on one side of the road while traffic moves on the remaining space on the road.
In absence of footpaths, it becomes difficult to walk on roads, particularly for children," a local said.
During the discussion, two neigbhours almost came to blows, each one accusing the other over irregular parking. Sarpanch, Blaize Fernandes couldn't offer a satisfactory answer on the issue.
A local residnet , Dominic Fernandes brought to the attention of the gram sabha on nuisance created by touts in the village.
"At every 5 metres, one can find touts in Candolim offering drugs, women, dance bars, etc. It's high time the panchayat takes some action in the matter," Fernandes said.
MLA Lobo informed that in a similar complaint police had cracked down on touts in Calangute. But later locals who own guesthouses in the area rushed to the police station and appealed to stop the action, he added.
"Apparently because of these touts their business flourished and the same may even happen here," Lobo said. The
locals assured the MLA that no one will oppose action on touts in Candolim and emphatically called for quick and firm action against all the touts in the village.
The panchayat felicitated students who were toppers in board exams in schools and colleges in the village.
