VASCO: The Gram Sabha members of Cortalim-Quelossim Panchayat in one voice resolved to oppose shifting of casinos to Zuari.
The gram sabha also passed a resolution demanding that the government give grants to English medium schools and Konkani to be made compulsory subject till SSC.
Besides these, several other crucial resolutions were passed during the meeting that was chaired by Sarpanch Hillario Figuerido and was attended by RDA Minister and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha, on Sunday.
On the proposal for shifting casinos to Zuari River, the gram sabha members claimed that, in the past, they had raised their strong objections, backed by gram sabha resolution against shifting of casinos as well as marina projects along River Zuari, because the same would adversely affect the society and the environmental.
Alina informed the gram sabha members that she too had raised her objection, because the Chicalim and Sancoale bays are the breeding ground for several marine species and there is needs to protect this area from the biodiversity point of view.
Finally, the Gram Sabha members unanimously resolved to oppose shifting of casinos to River Zuari as well as setting up of marinas along River Zuari.
On Medium of Instruction (MoI), the gram sabha members resolved that the government should continue giving grants to English medium school and that Konkani language should be a made a compulsory subject up to SSC or even at higher secondary level.
Other important issue was on the pending bifurcation of panchayat wherein a villager Mariano Dias demanded explanation from the panchayat on the status on the issue. To this, Sarpanch Figuerido informed that due to the intervention of Alina the panchayat held a meeting with panchayat minister and within three weeks there would be some outcome on the issue.
The gram sabha also discussed hosts of other issues, such as, mushrooming of illegal scrap yards in the village (6 identified by the panchayat) and demand for action against such scrap yards, pending action against the people responsible for the cutting down mangroves in Quelossim village, hardships to the local fishermen due to anchoring of barges on the bank of River Zuari.
