the goan I network
VALPOI
Raising the issue, the villagers said since the last four years, river Valvanti and its water bodies are contaminated with chemical waste, garbage, cow dung, but the panchayat failed to give its attention to the problem.
Some residents, Subhash Gurav, Gurudas Gaonkar, Vishnu Sawant and others sought to know from Sarpanch Atmaram Shetye about the pollution and demanded strict action against the culprits in the matter.
Replying to the queries of the villagers, Sarpanch Shetye said the panchayat has already issued notices to a nursery and dairy farm in the vicinity and directed the owner to stop discharging chemical waste, cow dung in the Valvanti water bodies.
"Notice will also be issued to an illegal construction of a cow shed as per the demand of gram sabha within two days," said the sarpanch.
The villagers warned that Valvanti river is the lifeline of North Goa and they will not tolerate pollution of the river.
Other issues of hot-mixing of internal roads in Poriem Panchayat area and water scarcity in Gholwada were also highlighted during the gram sabha.
Sarpanch Shetye said the file of hot-mixing of roads has been submitted to the authorities concerned and sanctions are awaited, while the water scarcity problem in Gholwada will be solved shortly.
After the gram sabha, former panch and social activist Gurudas Gaonkar told The Goan that the polluted water bodies of Valvanti river is a serious threat to the people of Sattari and Bicholim
talukas.
"The Padoshe water treatment plant with capacity of 40 MLD and Sakhali water treatment plant with capacity of 20 MLD are fully dependent on Valvanti river. If the water bodies of the river are polluted, it will have adverse effect on our health. We are battling for the existence of this river and the authorities should take the matter seriously," he added.
Panchayat secretary Narayan Gawas read the minutes of the last gram sabha.
