the goan I network
MARGAO
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s letters to the village sarpanchas with a plea to conserve water figured prominently at the special gram sabhas of some of the Salcete panchayats on Sunday, even as the members called for government funds to take up work on water conservation as well as for the preservation of the water bodies and bandhs in the villages.
In his letter addressed to the village sarpanchas across the country ahead of the monsoon, the Prime Minister had urged the sarpanchas to come together for the construction of check dams and embankments along rivers and streams, bunding in fields, digging and cleaning of ponds, tree plantation, building reservoirs etc for the storage of rain water, so that the water in the fields gets conserved and the water of the village gets conserved in the village itself.
The PM’s letter was read out at the special gram sabhas on Sunday as per Modi’s instruction so that the water issue gets discussed within the community.
The Curtorim special gram sabha chaired by acting Sarpanch Simon Barretto discussed the PM’s letter, with members suggesting that the government should sanction funds for the upkeep and maintenance of the six major lakes spread across the village.
Chairman of the Curtorim Bio-diversity Committee J Santan Rodrigues said that funds sanctioned by the government for the restoration of the water bodies will go a long way in protecting the water resources.
The Chinchinim special gram sabha also discussed the PM’s letter. Deputy Sarpanch Valentino Barretto informed that the meeting has resolved to ask the government to sanction funds for the de-silting of the village ponds and lakes, after members pointed out that the traditional water bodies in the village are heavily silted.
The Ambelim gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Denica Correia also deliberated on the PM’s letter. After much discussion, the special gram sabha adopted a resolution that the government complete the Sapu tollem water project, which was aimed at conserving water resources to meet the drinking as well as irrigation needs of the local populace.
The PM’s letter was also deliberated at the Betalbatim gram sabha chaired by sarpanch Constancio Miranda.
