Team Herald
VASCO: The extraordinary Gram Sabha of Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim Village Panchayat on Sunday resolved to go ahead with phase II of solid waste management (SWM) plans and Open Defecation Free (ODF) schemes.
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Simon D’Souza, a villager said that the Gram Sabha mainly discussed the issue of solid waste management as per the letter sent by the Directorate of Panchayats to constitute a committee to handle the garbage and open defecation issues in the village.
D’Souza said that the Gram Sabha passed a resolution to mobilise extra funds and machinery to make the village garbage-free and also open defecation-free (ODF).
He said that the Gram Sabha members have requested the village panchayat not to allow any more mega projects and to create awareness about SWM and ODF schemes.
Since the village panchayat had not yet submitted its report on phase I of the ODF scheme regarding how many villagers have been provided toilets under this scheme, he said that the villagers did not want to misuse the scheme during the implementation of phase II.
D’Souza also felt the need to build toilets on the beaches and also in the market for the convenience of tourists and vendors and people.
Another villager Alex Azavedo complained that there were no dustbins nor there was proper garbage collection in the village. He also demanded toilet facilities in the market.
Villager Ela Mascarenhas said that phase I of the ODF scheme was not properly implemented since the village panchayat did not get the sanctioned funds. The village panchayat received only Rs 2.5 lakh of the total Rs 7 lakh.
She also demanded the installation of CCTV cameras in the village so as to nab those throwing garbage by the roadside and at other places and creating menace in the village.
The newly appointed Administrator sought the help and cooperation of the villagers in the implementation of phase II of the ODF scheme.
