MARGAO, JULY 11
The gram sabha of Colva village on Sunday has resolved not to grant construction licenses for commercial projects because of the acute problem of garbage and sewage disposal.
At the meeting held on Sunday, the gram sabha has asked the Panchayat body to keep all applications for construction license for commercial projects pending.
Sarpanch Angela Borges told newsmen after the meeting that the gram sabha has adopted a unanimous resolution asking the Panchayat body not to pass commercial projects for the moment.
She further said the gram sabha has passed a resolution to set up a sewage line in the village to take care of sewage disposal.
The issue of setting up of composting pits also figured at the meeting, wherein the Sarpanch pointed out that there is no place to set up many such units in the village due to objections from the people.
Gram sabha member Judith Almeida said the Sunday gram sabha discussed the serious issue of sewage and garbage disposal in the village in the light of severe indictment of hotels and restaurants by the Goa State Pollution Control on the question of sewage disposal.
She said the gram sabha members questioned the Panchayat over the follow up action taken by the body over the pollution Control Board directions. “Thought the panchayat had inspected a number of hotels, the exercise is not yet complete”, Almeida added.
She said the panchayat has not done a comprehensive study on the available infrastructure in the village. “The Panchayat had been issuing licenses for commercial projects and multi-dwelling units without taking care of the basic infrastructure such as garbage and sewage disposal and drinking water supply”, she added.
She said the gram sabha has adopted an unanimous resolution that no license should be granted to multi-housing units unless and until the government finds a solution to the sewage and garbage problem.
