MAPUSA
The Verla-Canca gram sabha on Sunday urged the panchayat to vigorously pursue the issue of illegal constructions and landfilling of paddy fields as landfilling activity continued unabated in the village.
The villagers also raised concerns about tapping groundwater for commercial use which has resulted in the drying up of wells leading to a shortage of drinking water.
Verla-Canca sarpanch Dipali Bicholkar informed the villagers that the panchayat had written to the Collector and the Administrator of Comunidade about illegal constructions and landfilling activity taking place in comunidade land.
The gram sabha members requested the panchayat to follow up on the matter on top priority and send reminders to the authorities so that prompt action is taken against the illegalities.
In the last gram sabha meeting, the sarpanch had assured the villagers to conduct a joint inspection by the panchayat and the comunidade since most of the landfilling activity was happening in comunidade land.
Several villagers said that the village was facing an acute shortage of drinking water due to rapid and haphazard development taking place in the village.
“Some unscrupulous elements are tapping the groundwater for commercial use which has resulted in the drying up of wells in the village. This has to be reported to the concerned authorities and stopped,” a local informed.
The villagers requested the panchayat to take a serious view of the issue and write to the concerned departments so that action is taken on the culprits.
The sarpanch assured to look into the matter and if need be, write to the concerned departments.
According to several villagers, despite taking up the issue of waste burning in the last gram sabha meeting, people continued to burn waste in broad daylight.
They said garbage was still being dumped along the Verla-Canca-Khorlim road and the same was disposed of by lighting a fire.
The gram sabha suggested that the panchayat should file an FIR against unknown persons for illegally burning garbage. The chairman of the Biodiversity Management Committee has been asked to take necessary action in the matter.
Tenant verification, multi-dwelling projects, rural infra panchayat scheme and other issues also came up for discussion.
Notify Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve, demand locals
MAPUSA:
Opposing plans to divert the waters of Mhadei River, the Verla-Canca gram sabha on Sunday unanimously demanded to notify Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve.
The villagers also demanded the withdrawal of the go-ahead given by the central government to Karnataka's Detail Project Report (DPR) for their Kalasa Bhandura Project on river Mhadei.
A resident of Verla-Canca Lincoln Braganza moved the resolution on Mhadei river issue which was wholeheartedly supported by the entire gram sabha.
It was also decided to involve the residents of all the wards of the village by signing an appeal to save Mhadei.
The villagers decided to submit the resolution to the Chief Minister of Goa, Siolim MLA, Forest Department, Water Resources Department, Department of Environment & Climate Change, Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan, Aami Goenkar and Save Mhadei Save Goa Front.
