Sarpanch assures action against plots in Mandopa; farmers demand fencing to protect fields from strays
Gram sabha members of Navelim village panchayat held on Sunday.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
The controversial issue of development of plots at Mandopa area of the village took centre stage at the gram sabha of the village panchayat of Navelim on Sunday.
At the gram sabha meeting chaired by Sarpanch Michael Cardozo on Sunday, the issue dominated the proceedings, after questions were raised over the delay by the panchayat body to initiate action against the plots.
When the issue was raised at the meeting, gram sabha members led by George Barretto demanded to know from the Chair why the panchayat has been slow in taking action against the land development. George and other gram sabha members questioned why the issue comes up before the gram sabha again and again and the delay by the panchaayt body to initiate action.
The Chair pointed out that the panchayat has issued a show cause notice to the plot developer, assuring that the panchayat would take the process forward.
After the meeting, Sarpanch Michael told the media that the issue would be placed before the panchayat body meeting scheduled on February 15. The sarpanch assured that the panchayat would set in motion the process for the demolition of the activities carried out on the land in question.
The Salpem lake issue also figured prominently at the meeting when members, including farmers complained they cannot cultivate the fields for lack of fencing. They pointed out that the western bypass passing through the lake has divided the fields and left them open for stray cattle, besides dumping of waste. The members demanded fencing of the fields to keep strays at bay.
On the stray dog front, the Chair explained that the panchayat has received a memorandum from the government to ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NGOs to start Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme in the village to reduce stray dog population.
Members raised the issue of vehicular parking near the educational institutions, with a member demanding to see the parking provision in the plan.
Though the government had inaugurated the western bypass in December last, members pointed out that heavy vehicles continue to ply through the village, adding to the traffic congestion.
