MARGAO
Guirdolim villagers waging a battle to protect the water bodies devastated by the track doubling works laid an two-and-half hour-long siege at the Guirdolim Panchayat Ghar on Wednesday after they found the panchayat secretary not committing himself to conduct inspection of the water bodies arranged by the Guirdolim Bio-Diversity Management Committee.
The siege, which began at the Panchayat Ghar at around 4.45 pm continued till 7.30 pm. It was only after the panchayat secretary agreed to conduct the inspection along with the members of the Guirdolim BMC Chairperson Agostinho Antao on Thursday that the villagers withdrew the siege.
Maina-Curtorim police personnel, attached to the Chandor outpost, rushed to the Panchayat Ghar upon hearing the news. Agostinho Antao and others explained the police that they have no intention to stop the panchayat secretary from leaving the Panchayat Ghar, but are only requesting the secretary, who is the secretary of the village Bio-Diversity Management Committee, to attend the inspection.
Secretary Amey Miringkar, on the other hand, contended that he does not want to commit himself to conduct the inspection for the reason that he may be called by officials for the ongoing election work. He also refused to give in writing that he would attend the inspection on Thursday, but later told the BMC Chairperson Agostinho Antao that he would try to come for the inspection by Thursday.
Antao told The Goan that the inspection of the water bodies by the Guirdolim BMC is mandatory before a report is filed before the State Bio-Diversity Board. “Without the BMC inspection report, a report cannot be submitted to the State Bio-Diversity Board. We also cannot file a petition before the NGT without the report,” he said.
Antao says the villagers have at their disposal just four more days to move the competent forum before the Railways resume work at the site.
The Guirdolim Bio-Diversity Management Committee Chairperson has warned that villagers will squat at the entrance to the Guirdolim Panchayat Ghar on Friday if the panchayat secretary plays truant on Thursday.
Villagers seek WRD minister’s help, get water bodies inspected
MARGAO: Villagers of Chandor and Guirdolim on Wednesday called on the Water Resources Department (WRD) Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues to get the department officials inspect the water bodies devastated by the railway track doubling works.
The villagers requested the Minister to direct the Railways to immediately remove the mud dumped in the Nagozana lake. They also objected to the RVNL to shift the sluice gate, saying such a move will further destroy the existing mud lands surrounding the lake as well as the paddy fields. After giving the villagers a patient hearing, the Minister directed his engineers to hold inspection of the water bodies immediately on Wednesday evening. Accordingly, WRD officials made their presence felt near the site of the water bodies for inspection and to take stock of the situation.
