MAPUSA
In a dramatic turn of events, the residents of Pomburpa on Sunday’s gram sabha demanded the immediate resignation of Sarpanch Leopoldina Fernandes.
The outcry stemmed from accusations of fraud, as Fernandes allegedly issued a no objection certificate (NOC) for the construction of a road on private forest land at Ecoxim, Pomburpa, without proper authorization.
The villagers also resolved not to allow digging of the Olaulim road for underground electricity cabling but instead requested using the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technique.
During the gram sabha meeting, local activist Dhiren Phadte brought to light the irregularities surrounding the road construction, revealing that permission was granted by the panchayat without requisite clearances from the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department and forest authorities.
Phadte minced no words, labeling Fernandes as a "dummy sarpanch" who was merely dancing to the whims of unknown entities.
Adding fuel to the fire, several villagers echoed Phadte's sentiments, criticizing the sarpanch for signing the NOC, a duty they claimed should have fallen under the purview of the secretary.
The uproar reached its peak when one villager questioned the laxity of the panchayat in issuing such directives.
Despite mounting pressure and widespread condemnation, Sarpanch Leopoldina Fernandes staunchly defended her position, refusing to yield to the demands of the aggrieved villagers.
Later in a statement to the press, Fernandes dismissed the accusations as repetitive and counterproductive, emphasizing the need for constructive discourse to foster the village's development.
Meanwhile, the villagers also voiced their opposition to the conventional method of digging up the Olaulim road for underground electricity cabling, advocating instead for the adoption of the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technique.
After a heated debate, a resolution was passed to implement the HDD method for laying the underground cables along a 2.5-km stretch in the village.
