Calangute gram sabha seeks legal remedy on bad roads
MAPUSA
Suggesting legal remedy to repair the horribly battered roads in Calangute, members of the gram sabha asked the panchayat to approach the High Court and seek direction to government departments to mend the roads on top priority.
“Almost all the roads in Calangute are in miserable condition. Common man is suffering due to the horrible condition of the roads. It’s high time the panchayat intervenes and takes some urgent steps on the issue,” said Anthony D’Souza, a resident of Calangute.
Blaming the ongoing sewerage work in the village for the pathetic condition of roads, Deputy Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira said PWD was responsible to look after the roads.
“All the main roads in Calangute are under the PWD and they are supposed to look after the maintenance of these roads,” Sequeira said.
He said the panchayat had written numerous letters to the PWD but they keep on passing the buck on the sewerage contractor.
Another gram sabha suggested that since the PWD failed to do their job, in public interest the panchayat should take up the work and repair the roads on top priority.
“Can’t the panchayat intervene for the sake of the common man and do some damage control to at least patch up the roads,” the gram sabha members pleaded.
The deputy sarpanch said the panchayat wouldn’t mind to repair the road but only if the PWD gave it permission to do so.
“Last time when I (panchayat) took the initiative to repair the roads, the PWD slapped two complaints against me for interfering in their jurisdiction,” Sequeira said.
Anthony suggested approaching the High Court and seeking direction to the PWD and other government departments to fix the roads.
Other gram sabha members joined the chorus supporting the idea of knocking the doors of the court, as the government appeared helpless in rending basic service to its citizens.
In another move, the gram sabha resolved to convert the road opposite to the Calangute Church, as no parking area to discourage the tourist buses and trucks from parking there and creating nuisance in the area.
Deputy Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira had suggested converting the area into pay parking and charging each of the vehicles Rs 500 for four hours, with the intention to dissuade the buses and trucks from parking there.
After the construction of the new waste treatment plant at Saligao-Calangute plateau, the panchayat had no land to dump fallen trees and branches.
The panchayat decided to purchase a machine which would crush the tree logs and branches and the resultant powder could be used as manure.
“The imported machine costs Rs 45 lakh,” the deputy sarpanch said and further informed that CCP had such a machine.
The panchayat also decided to buy a new tractor costing Rs 10 lakh for the benefit of farmers in the village.
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‘Calangute Police takes us for granted’
THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
Deputy Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira said police has taken Calangute people for granted by refusing to act on written requests.
“I have written numerous letters to Calangute Police Inspector but he refuses to take action on my complaints,” Sequiera said.
Sequeira was replying to members of the gram sabha inquiring on the issue over the menace of migrant tenants and the decision to hold a meeting with the police and the villagers.
The deputy sarpanch said that he did not expect any cooperation from the police, as they acted on the instruction of their political bosses.
Anthony D’Souza said: “Police take action only under the pressure of political masters if their palms are greased.” He wondered the plight of a poor aam aadmi who approaches such police with their complaints.
The gram sabha members then urged the deputy sarpanch to write to the DGP.
The police and the government will not give us justice. Its better we approach the court for relief, the gram sabha members said.
