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PONDA
This horrifying fact was revealed at the Shiroda gram sabha -- around sixty cattle have died in last eighteen months as result of consumption of plastic. Shiroda Sarpanch Amit Shirodkar has appealed to locals not to burn plastics or throw these in open areas. “People bring food in plastic bags and throw these in open areas. Cattle are easily attracted to these plastic food bags. But the sad part is they end up consuming the plastics along with the food items. Consumption of plastic is the main cause of cattle deaths. Let us stop throwing plastic bags and burning them,” he urged.
He informed The Goan, that every month the panchayat collects one tonne dry waste and sends it for recycling. “I want to appeal to people to help us to get rid of plastics. It will help human beings and also animals,” he added.
The panchayat has to spend money to dispose the dead cattle.
Meanwhile, the gram sabha has decided to carry out assessment of house tax. “In the last ten years assessment of house tax was not done. Mud houses have been converted into concrete, but we never opposed anyone. Till today, people are constructing houses in fields. I appeal to them to take the benefit of regularisation. We will have to obey the rules,” he said.
He informed that from May 1, the assessment will resume. “We will verify everything. Under the Health Act, some my have taken water and electricity connections, but a house number is a must. The house tax will be imposed as per government rates,” he said.
Shirodkar said that there are around 5,200 registered houses. Shirodkar has set a deadline of June 10 or at the earliest a month’s time to complete the assessment process. “If the people support, then we will be able to complete it in one month,” he said.
He also said that when streetlights were replaced in some areas, some people criticised saying there was politics involved. “I want to clarify that we have no place for politics in the panchayat. We are for all people. There is space for politics outside the panchayat,” he added.
He also said that Sopo collection will continue. The gram sabha also raised several other issues concerning the village.
Secretary Namita Hajare and observer from BDO Raghunath Naik were present at the gram sabha.
