MAPUSA
Even as the Goa Police continue to project an aggressive crackdown on drug trafficking, residents of Siolim-Sodiem have sounded a stark warning: narcotics are quietly tightening their grip on village youth, and the menace is once again spreading into local neighbourhoods.
At a tense gram sabha held on Sunday, villagers voiced deep concern over what they described as a resurgence of drug consumption in isolated pockets of the village. The meeting, presided over by Sarpanch Deepa Pednekar, saw several residents allege that young people are frequenting canal embankments, internal roads and secluded stretches to consume narcotics.
Locals recalled that a similar problem had surfaced in the past, but was curbed after sustained police intervention. “Action was taken earlier and it had stopped. Now it has raised its ugly head again,” one villager said, urging authorities to act before the situation spirals further.
Residents demanded that the panchayat formally write to the police and the Anti-Narcotics Cell seeking intensified patrolling, especially in identified “black spots” such as the canal areas, Maine-Sodiem stretch, Pilimbi and other interior roads. Several speakers alleged that miscreants are seen loitering till late at night in these zones, with suspected drug use and alcohol consumption.
Deputy Sarpanch Nilesh Vagainkar admitted that complaints had been received about suspicious late-night activity near canal areas and supported the demand for stepped-up patrols. Another resident questioned the effectiveness of beat policing and pressed for written communication to the Mapusa Police Station, the DySP and the Anti-Narcotics Cell.
Following the discussion, the Gram Sabha resolved to formally request the police to increase patrolling and crack down on suspected drug-related activity. Villagers also expressed alarm over empty liquor bottles and other paraphernalia found dumped in public spaces, suggesting rising substance abuse among youth.
Beyond narcotics, the meeting reflected wider anxieties in the village. Issues ranging from objections to smart electricity meters and stray cattle menace to pending CCTV installations and seepage from the Tillari irrigation canal were raised. Concerns over roadside parking by a restaurant at Xell, allegedly causing traffic hazards, were also discussed, with a demand to involve the traffic cell.
Yet, it was the spectre of drugs targeting local youth that dominated the proceedings. For Siolim-Sodiem residents, the message was clear: enforcement must move from claims of statewide crackdowns to visible, ground-level action before another generation falls prey to narcotics.
