MAPUSA
The Saligao gram sabha on Sunday was marked by intense discussions surrounding the deteriorating condition of roads and the unpleasant odor emanating from the solid waste treatment plant. Local residents voiced their frustrations and demanded immediate action from the village panchayat.
Waste treatment plant issue: Mario Cordeiro, a local resident, highlighted the severe impact of the stench from the Saligao plateau solid waste management plant on the lives of nearby residents. Cordeiro also raised concerns about trucks with Maharashtra registration plates allegedly dumping garbage at the plant, urging the panchayat to investigate the matter.
Road conditions criticized: Villagers expressed strong discontent with the panchayat’s failure to repair roads before the onset of the monsoon. They reported that the rains had exacerbated the already poor condition of key roads, causing significant difficulties for school children, the elderly, and motorists. Specific areas mentioned included Arrarim and the main thoroughfare from Saligao to the Pilerne industrial estate, where numerous potholes made travel dangerous.
Peoples protest and absence of officials: The discontent culminated in a protest organized by the villagers on Saturday against the poor road conditions. However, residents were disappointed by the absence of the sarpanch and MLA at the meeting called to address these issues.
Local resident Liberata Madeira expressed frustration, stating, “Despite informing about our meeting to highlight the condition of roads, our sarpanch and MLA did the vanishing act and failed to remain present to hear our grievances.”
In response, Saligao Sarpanch Lucas Remedios claimed he had not received any information about the meeting, a statement challenged by Madeira, who pointed out that the meeting details were widely shared on social media. Remedios assured the villagers that hotmixing work on the roads would commence after the monsoon, and temporary measures to fill potholes would be undertaken in the meantime.
Concerns over gaddas: Villagers also voiced their displeasure with the panchayat for allowing individuals from Calangute to set up gaddas (small shops) in Saligao. They urged the panchayat to restrict the setup of gaddas to locals only, preventing outsiders from establishing businesses in the village.
Anticipating potential issues due to the bad road conditions, a significant number of police personnel were stationed near the panchayat.
However, the incessant rains resulted in a low turnout at the gram sabha.
