OLD GOA
Residents of St Estevam have petitioned the Tiswadi BDO to re-convene the extraordinary gram sabha which was postponed by the panchayat.
In a letter to the BDO, Estevam Ribeiro and other villagers have highlighted how panchayat authorities postponed the extraordinary gram sabha scheduled on January 9, citing the code of conduct.
“We request you to intervene and take necessary steps to convene the extraordinary gram sabha urgently, and also issue strictures against the village panchayat for failing and purposely postponing the extra ordinary gram sabha requested by the villagers,” the letter states.
It may be recalled that The Goan had highlighted that the St Estevam gram sabha was postponed at the last moment by panchayat authorities citing the code of conduct.
However, villagers who had turned in large numbers for the gram sabha gave vent to their anger at panchayat authorities for using the code as an excuse to postpone the gram sabha.
The villagers said the gram sabha pertained to discussion on the illegal construction on the St Estevam side for a bridge connecting Cumbarjua and St Estevam.
“It had nothing to do with developmental works,” the villagers had pointed out.
Meanwhile, Ribeiro has also complained to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) about the construction of the bridge, terming it illegal.
He has asked the GCZMA to immediately conduct a site inspection and issue a stop-work notice to GSIDC, besides taking appropriate action in accordance with law.
