I attended the Colva gram sabha on October 26 and I feel all Colvenkars must attend gram sabhas, to see the way most Colva panchas and the Colva secretary, are running the panchayat and the general governance in Colva. We will pay a heavy price, if we do not keep them in check and question the way they govern their village. This gram sabha was held about 8 months from the last gram sabha in February; the Colva secretary and panchas seem to be not bothered about why they are not holding the gram sabhas every quarter. There was one particular person (not Indian citizen) speaking at the gram sabha and a villager raised an objection to the secretary and panchas; who conveniently ignored it. Key proposals on discussing water/power issues where Colva Panchayat has to check before issuing licenses and multiple villas with swimming pools coming up at various places particularly in restricted fishing wards; were rejected via letters by the Colva on flimsy grounds. Past resolutions taken with regard to many businesses (run by people from outside Goa) illegally operating in the village are strangely ignored by the panchas.
