the goan I network
PONDA
Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Digital India concept with an objective of connecting rural areas with high-speed Internet, some of the locals from Patne-Bandora are objecting to the request of fellow villagers for installation of a mobile tower.
According to opposition group, the mobile tower may lead to reduction in their agriculture produce.
The gram sabha presided over by Sarpanch Ramchandra Naik discussed various issues pertaining to developmental work of the village. This also consisted the request to install the mobile tower.
Secretary Satchit Gawade was present on the occasion.
Sarpanch Naik informed the gram sabha that around forty people from Patne area have submitted a request letter to invite any mobile network to install a mobile tower. But the few locals from Patne present for the meeting objected to the move.
“We have plantations and agriculture activities in that area. If a mobile tower is installed, it will affect our agricultural produce,” locals argued.
The Bandora villagers also questioned Sarpanch Naik on the amount paid for erecting a pandal for last gram sabha held in November 2017.
It may be recalled that the last meeting had witnessed tension over the venue, where a drawing competition was organised by one organisation but at the same place panchayat had erected a pandal for the gram sabha. Then Bandora panchayat body was forced to shift the gram sabha in the panchayat hall.
The locals from Undir Bandora, who are opposing Sewerage Treatment Plant, raised a doubt that the pandal was erected to get a larger attendance to mpass a resolution favouring the STP.
On Sunday replying to villagers Sarpanch Naik said that payment for pandal was done by one well wisher. But when locals sought to know who was the well-wisher, Naik stood and told that he himself paid for it.
“We have not used panchayat fund to erect the pandal. I was saying well wisher because I did not want to name myself. I don’t want credit for it,” he said.
