MAPUSA: Former Calangute sarpanch Anthony Menezes said his mission was to protect the hills and fields in the village and that he fully backed the local MLA and his group in the panchayat.
“I am 100 percent with the group of the local MLA Michael Lobo in the panchayat. I am only fighting for my villagers,” Menezes told The Goan.
The former sarpanch was responding to his outbursts against the Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Calangute at the special gram sabha held on Independence Day.
Menezes maintained that he was very much a member of the group affiliated to the local MLA, but that will not stop him from speaking for the village and the people.
“Tomorrow if we allow filling of fields where will the water go? See, what is happening in Kerala. We have to save our fields and hills. Come what may, I will stand by my people in the village,” he told The Goan.
He said preference should be given to the people of the village to prepare the ODP and not to someone from outside the village.
On August 15, a special gram sabha was held in Calangute panchayat office after some villagers claimed that Sarpanch Shawn Martins and the ruling group abandoned meeting after hoisting the tri-colour.
Three panch members including former sarpanch Anthony Menezes participated in the special gram sabha meeting where the locals discussed issues affecting the village. The other two panch members “ Gabriel Fernandes and Rupa Chodankar “ belonged to the opposition group.
At the meeting, Menezes objected to the Calangute ODP in the present form stating that it will destroy the fields and hills in Calangute.
He said as per the ODP, fields and part of hills were shown as settlement and in some areas roads were shown in properties to benefit builders.
Meanwhile, scorching off any differences with the former sarpanch, Calangute Sarpanch Shawn Martins stated that Menezes was very much with the ruling group.
“Anthony Menezes is very much with our group. He was misinformed by some people about the special gram sabha. After we spoke to him he clarified he is with us,” Martins said.
