Gram sabha members of Navelim panchayat on Sunday refused to give NOC for any new towers proposed to be set up under the guise of BRICS on grounds that Navelim village does not come under the purview of the BRICS summit.
During a discussion on the proposal moved by the Secretary seeking NOC for the construction of a tower in the village for the BRICS summit, gram sabha member Eleuterio Carneiro pointed out that Navelim village is separated by River Sal on the west, and therefore it does not come under the purview of BRICS scheduled in the coastal belt. He said the villagers will plan for the village with respect to development in information and technology.
Anthony Alvares said, “Whichever company it may be, let them come and file the applications for NOC to the panchayat for construction of towers, and it is we the villagers who will decide for the gram sabha, and not the CM and Director of Panchayats”.
He also said the Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar should make it clear what type of weapon he is intending to use against the people, while demanding an apology for making the statement.
Pointing out that the villagers are not against mobile towers, members said the villagers will decide about the issue with proper planning and research, taking into account the needs of the people, village topography, flora and fauna and other aspects.
Meanwhile, the gram sabha discussed the failure of the panchayat to check the functioning of composting units of housing complexes.
Members pointed out that the composting units are not used by residents, with wet waste finding its way on the roads, fields, etc.
Herold Pinto said that most of the houses kept tenants in rooms for rent, who in turn dispose of their garbage around the village and defecate in the open, thus giving rise to health and sanitation problems.
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