the goan I network
OLD GOA
Sending out a clear message to the government that the people of St Cruz are totally opposed to the inclusion of their areas in the PDA, St Cruz locals gheraoed the panchayat authorities on Saturday and virtually forced them to revoke the resolution recommending inclusion of the panchayat areas in
the PDA.
The protest comes against the backdrop of the inclusion of some areas of St Cruz village into the PDA vide gazette notification dated December 21.
In the last gram sabha held in December last year, the locals had asked the panchayat authorities to revoke the resolution recommending inclusion of St Cruz village in the PDA.
Speaking to the media, activist Arturo D'Souza said the inclusion of some survey numbers of St Cruz in the PDA is a devious attempt to construct a road from Taleigao which goes through the eco-sensitive areas, like the lake, of St Cruz before connecting to the highway.
"This is an attempt to favour the builders," alleged D'Souza and informed that they had gathered outside the panchayat office because it was the first fortnightly meeting of the panchayat, since the last gram sabha
was held.
The villagers said that they wanted to make sure that the panchayat authorities revoked the earlier
resolution favouring the inclusion of St Cruz in the PDA and send a clear message to the government
that the people of St Cruz are totally opposed to include areas of the village in the PDA.
Pressure on p'yat to include village in PDA: Sarpanch
the goan I network
OLD GOA
St Cruz Sarpanch Mariano Araujo informed that the panchayat on Saturday had already revoked the earlier resolution and had passed a fresh resolution citing opposition of the people to inclusion of parts of St Cruz in the PDA.
"If the people oppose it, then we have to bow down to their wishes," Araujo told The Goan.
When prodded, Araujo admitted that there was pressure on panchayat authorities due to which they had taken the resolution recommending inclusion of parts of village in the PDA.
"We were given to understand that inclusion of St Cruz in PDA would usher in development of the village," he added.
