Vasco:
Despite the objections raised by three Sancoale panch members and a letter from the Cortalim MLA Anton Vas’s office to the BDO objecting to the shifting of the venue of the gram sabha, deputy sarpanch Girish Pillai successfully conducted the gram sabha along with other members at the newly inaugurated cyclone shelter at Zuarinagar on Sunday.
The gram sabha saw heated discussions even as the police force stationed on the premises had to intervene and halt the meeting for a few minutes to maintain law and order. Sopo collection, garbage menace, and temple functioning were among the major issues discussed during the day.
Speaking to the media later, Pillai said that there had been a rise in communal issues in the panchayat jurisdiction recently.
“We also had an issue with the Yellamma Devi Temple, which has its own committee but is now led by two groups who differ in opinion. The temple used to have its festival once a year for over 40 years, but the temple and the access to it are private property. We have done our best and even requested the landowners for access to the temple but we can’t do anything beyond that legally. We also got another proposal to request the private landowners again for the access, and we have resolved to do so at the request of the people,” said Pillai.
“We had a heated discussion on another issue raised by former sarpanch Premanand Naik, who suggested that we start with sopo collection to increase the revenue of the panchayat. Naik is experienced and had raised this issue in the last gram sabha as well, and we have now decided to make him the head of the committee and give him an opportunity to do good for the village by having the sopo collection,” the deputy sarpanch informed.
“Another proposal was raised by a local, Ram Gopal Yadav, on the door-to-door garbage collection, and this is also another proposal that can generate revenue. We will discuss it and get it passed,” said Pillai.
“Another issue was that of a construction site where there is digging of around 15 meters deep which is next to a residential building. We have already sent them a stop-work notice but they work in the night and based on the objection raised by the residents of the building, we will send them a letter after taking up the issue in a body meeting,” said Pillai.
