the goan I network
MAPUSA
Pomburpa-Olaulim gram sabha on Sunday joined the loud chorus against coal transportation and nationalization of rivers in the State and unanimously passed a resolution to oppose both the proposals to safeguard the interest of Goans.
Moving the proposal to oppose coal transportation and nationalization of rivers, Jose Castellino said coal transportation will wreck havoc on the environment of the State while river nationalization will rob the livelihood of the fishing community.
The resolution was seconded by Joe Rose which was unanimously passed by the gram sabha members.
The Pomburpa-Olaulim panchayat secretary informed the gram sabha on a recent circular issued by the government which expressed concern on rampant rise in illegal constructions in the State.
He said as per the circular, all the panchayats have been directed to remain vigilant and take action against illegal constructions.
Intervening in the discussion, former sarpanch, Vinay Chopdekar said recently in a case the panchayat deputy director had passed an order asking the panchayat to follow proper procedure and should act on specific compliant and not to take suo motu action.
The panchayat secretary said they have to go by the recent order issued by the state secretary for panchayat and take action against illegal constructions.
Chopdekar said there was need for clarification on the order of the deputy director and hence the panchayat should write to the directorate of panchayat and accordingly take future action.
Another gram sabha member, Joseph Pereira brought up the issue of land filling in land belonging to church.
He said the issue was brought to the notice of panchayat but since no action was initiated by the panchayat, the church had to approach flying squad to stop the illegal land filling.
Sarpanch, Prabhakar Halarnakar said a complaint was filed against unknown persons, hence the panchayat did not know who to issue the notice to.
"The inspection was delayed but we have issued stop work order," Halarnkar said.
Expressing unhappiness on frequent power cuts and poor telecom service, locals demanded officials of electricity department and BSNL should be asked to be present at the next gram sabha.
Raymond Pereira also demanded that traffic officials should also be asked to attend the next gram sabha as one of the major issues in the village was parking of vehicles along the road causing inconvenience to motorists and locals.
It was resolved to write to electricity department, BSNL and Mapusa traffic cell requesting them to assign their representative to be present for next gram sabha meeting.
The sarpanch informed that the panchayat is undertaking survey of all houses that are discharging waste water into the river following a direction of the Block Development Officer.
A local demanded that the panchayat should inform the authorities that these houses existed in the village for decades.
ZP member Gokuldas Halarnkar said several steps were taken to resolve the issue such as constructing septic tanks, but to no avail.
