MARGAO
Construction of a bypass on the NH66 at Dandeavaddo, reconsideration of the notification declaring the Durga fields as wetlands, upgradation of the Chinchinim Primary Health Centre were amongst the host of issues that came to the fore during Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira’s visit to Chinchinim village in Velim constituency during the Panchayat Chalo Abhiyan on Tuesday.
Chinchinim villagers also raised the contentious issues of the lack of men and vehicles at the Cuncolim police station, hampering policing in the area.
The villagers also raised the issue of mangroves encroaching into the paddy fields, leaving the agricultural fields fallow.
Sarpanch Valentino Barretto made a fervent plea to the Minister to take up with the government the issue of building the NH66 bypass instead of a flyover. He said the people have been waging a long-drawn struggle to demand a bypass at Dandeavaddo, but the National Highway is hell bent in building a flyover at the site.
Chinchinim panchayat member Gerson Gomes and others raised the issue of the government’s decision to notify Durga fields as wetlands. The panchayat member, representing Durga, drew attention of the Minister, who is the Chairman of the State Bio-diversity Board, how the decision notifying Durga as wetlands will affect the local residents on the question of building houses. He feared that the locals will be barred from building houses in the buffer zones.
Replying to the Panchayat member, Sequeira wondered why the panchayat or the Bio-diversity Management Committee did not lodge their objections when the process was set in motion by the Board, ruling out the possibility of de-notifying the wetland.
Gerson and others pointed out that the panchayat as well as the villagers had objected to the proposal, but the Board has bulldozed its way against the wishes of the locals.
On the question of mangroves encroaching into paddy fields, Sequeira pointed out that the government has no power to cut mangroves. He, however, said the government is waiting for the High Court’s decision on the writ petition filed by Goa Foundation on the issue.
Villagers along with the sarpanch forcefully took the issue of lack of vehicles with the Cuncolim police. Saying the Cuncolim police has a vast jurisdiction, extending right from Karmal Ghat in Quepem to Sarzora, Chinchinim and Velim in Salcete, besides the Cuncolim Municipal area, the villagers made a fervent plea to the Minister to take up with the government to sanction additional vehicles for the police station.
The Minister later paid a visit to the Velim village panchayat to hear the grievances of the villagers. Villagers including Ramona Almeida highlighted issues ranging from Octroi collection to the non-functioning bio-toilets at the Cutbona fishing jetty.
Aleixo wriggles out on the issue of EVMs
MARGAO: Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira on Tuesday wriggled out on the contentious issue of use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in elections during his visit to Velim constituency as part of the Panchayat Chalo Abhiyan.
He faced questions on EVMs during his visit to the Chinchinim panchayat and later at the Velim village panchayat to hearing the grievances of the people.
Ex-Chinchinim panchayat member John Pereira drew the attention of the Minister to the ongoing war against EVMs and return of the ballot system in the election. When he sought to know whether the Minister would stand by the people in the war against the EVMs, Sequeira maintained that he is not in a position to change the EVMs.
At Velim panchayat too, the Minister wriggled out of the situation by saying that he cannot do much on the issue.
