MAPUSA
In a bizarre act, instead of taking swift action on a public nuisance in the village, the Tivim panchayat thought it fit to first inspect the troublesome sites!
A concerned resident of Tivim wrote to the local panchayat with photographic evidence highlighting the nuisance created by a pit with stagnant water and a large number of garbage bags dumped near a canal.
On Tuesday, the concerned local, Robert Colaco, in a letter to the panchayat informed that a pit with stagnant water near the Tivim football ground was acting as mosquito breeding site in the monsoon.
He also said the pit posed danger for two-wheeler riders, local vendors and people moving around in the vicinity.
Similarly, he highlighted another issue where a large number of garbage bags were dumped in a canal near the fort at Volvonem, Tivim.
Apart from taking the trouble to write to the panchayat, the local also attached photographic evidence of the public nuisance in his petition.
On Thursday, the panchayat wrote back to the villager stating that the panchayat had received a “complaint” from him and therefore would like to hold an inspection of the two sites on Monday (July 12).
“A complaint has been received in this office regarding the menace of stagnant water near Tivim ground and dumping of garbage bags in a canal near the fort at Volvonem. The village panchayat authority has decided to inspect the said sites,” said Sharmila Gadekar, Sarpanch of Tivim.
The local was also informed to remain present in the panchayat to carry out the inspection.
Colaco told The Goan that his letter was never supposed to be a complaint and the intention to write was to bring the nuisance to the attention of the panchayat.
The villager had also made a copy to the health officer attached to the Primary Health Centre at Colvale.
“I was shocked when I received the letter calling for inspection of the sites. The least I expected from the panchayat was quick corrective action against the public nuisance,” Colaco said.
