the goan I network
MAPUSA
There was no letup in the opposition to the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), with Moira gram sabha on Sunday unanimously calling for scrapping of the plan prepared by the Chennai-based organization.
The locals also demanded that the plan be redrawn either by the officials at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) or Goa University (GU) or the water resources department (WRD).
The gram sabha also gave a go-ahead to the plan of allowing locals to act as sentinels to tackle the garbage menace in the village. Labelling the CZMP as an exercise in futility, Rui Da Gama, a villager said the Chennai-based organization failed to demarcate rivers, sluice gates, fields etc in the plan causing grave injustice to the interests of the locals.
“This plan has to be scrapped in totality and we want it to be redrawn by people who know the topography of the State. It could be officials either from the NIO, GU or the WRD,” Da Gama said.
Another villager, Virgilia D’Sa opined that the officials should meet the locals and take their suggestions before formulating the plan.
The gram sabha unanimously passed a resolution to scrap the CZMP and to engage the services of NIO, GU or WRD to redraw a new plan.
Deputy Sarpanch, Oswald Cordeiro, informed the gram sabha that he has written to the CRZ department to depute an official to the panchayat to explain the plan/maps to the locals. The villagers also agreed to be sentinels to tackle the growing garbage menace in the village where upon locals will click photos of people who dump waste in the open and forward it to local panchayat for further action.
“Based on the photos sent by concerned locals we will issue fine against the offenders. Villagers have decided to do it for free,” said Cordeiro, who is officiating as the acting sarpanch.
Earlier, during the discussion on the garbage menace, Virgilia D’Sa pointed out that despite best efforts of the panchayat, waste was found dumped in the open.
To deter people from dumping waste, a villager, Philip D’Souza suggested sending notices to people informing them that panchayat was collecting garbage tax from them.
Based on a proposal of Rui Da Gama, the gram sabha decided to develop a community centre on Comunidade land at Attafondem, Moira.
The acting sarpanch informed that the panchayat has signed an agreement with Gomant Gau Rakshak, Mayem to take care of stray cattle.
“Anyone who spots stray cattle can call up the number of the organization. The staff will seize and take away the cattle and issue fine to the offenders,” Cordeiro said.
Moira Club comes under scanner for noise pollution yet again
MAPUSA: The issue of sound pollution caused by open air dances organised by the popular Moira Club came up for discussion once again in the gram sabha, on Sunday, with at least two locals objecting to the loud music played beyond stipulated hours and disturbing the peace of the residents in the area.
The gram sabha, however, rejected the proposal and asked the concerned locals to approach the relevant authorities.
Florence Mendes and Virgilia D’Sa wrote to the panchayat stating that the open air dance organised by the club was illegal, it caused noise pollution with its loud music and blatantly violated environmental laws.
“They play DJ music beyond the mandatory time inconveniencing the residents. We want the panchayat to take action on the illegality,” Mendes said.
Several villagers rejected the proposal against the Moira Club suggesting that sound pollution did not come under the ambit of the panchayat.
A villager, Bosco De Sa, said the club was started by their ancestors and has been organizing the dances for the last several years.
According to Darryl, a local, the dances were organised just twice a year and should not be objected.
Virgilia said she was not against the functions but against the violation of timing for playing music.
“Just because you have permissions, you cannot violate somebody’s right to live peacefully,” she said.
