CANACONA
Amid a controversy over two mega development projects proposed on eco-sensitive lands, two key meetings in Loliem-Polem village are set to clash on February 4.
The Loliem-Polem sarpanch has fixed a Gram Sabha on Sunday at 10 am, which incidentally happens to be at the same day and time as the Loliem-Polem Comunidade’s extraordinary General Body Meeting of its components at 10.30 am to discuss the in-principle approval of Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) and its request for a 99-year lease of 250 acres of land on Bhagwati plateau for a Film City.
The Comunidade has also approved of 494 acres of land to WAPCOS Limited to set up a Wind Hybrid Park.
In a notice on January 27, Loliem-Polem Sarpanch Nisha Chari has invited resolutions, suggestions on or before February 1 from villagers whose names are listed in the voter list, to be taken up in the ordinary Gram Sabha scheduled on Febrarury 4 at 10 am.
Amongst the six items listed in the notice are discussions on budget for 2024-25, progress of Bio-Diversity Committee, applications received from members about the resolutions/letters/objections and discussion on development works.
Interestingly, many components of the Comunidade, who are also Gram Sabha members and other villagers have objected to the timing of the Gram Sabha and have sought the postponement of the Gram Sabha.
“There are over 130 components in Loliem-Polem Comunidade, who are also Gram Sabha members as well. How can anyone attend both these meetings convened on the same day and almost at the same time in different locations,” asked Om Prabhudessai.
Prabhudessai said he would enquire with the Sarpanch and Secretary of Loliem-Polem Panchayat and also inform the Block Development Officer of the clash in both meetings.
“These two meetings cannot be convened at the same time and on the same day.”
SUSPICION
Villagers of Loliem have become suspicious with the decision to hold both meetings on the same day and time.
“Two simultaneous meetings pertaining to public important issues in the same village is something unheard of, unless there is something specific to hide, or with a hidden agenda to fool the people,” said Manoj Prabhugaonkar.
“This is a game plan by some smart politicians or panchayat members to create a confusion in people’s minds and not to allow them to attend either Gram Sabha or Comunidade extraordinary meeting.”
Citizens Committee of Loliem (CCL) President Dennis Fernandes also felt that if two meetings are kept on the same day, it indicates that there is some hidden plan by the panchayat and some Comunidade members.
It may be recalled that after the Comunidade of Loliem-Polem offered 250 acres of its land on Bhagwati plateau to ESG to set up a Film City, the Loliem-Polem Gram Sabha later passed a resolution not to allow development works on the eco-sensitive Bhagwati Plateau except for traditional use, almost reiterating its earlier unanimous resolution not to permit the IIT“Goa campus on the plateau.
