TEAM HERALD
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VASCO: The Chicalim Gram Sabha on Sunday witnessed noisy scenes over the issues of mobile towers and alleged reclamation of land by a company at Chicalim.
Most of the gram sabha members objected to the installation of mobile towers in the village and urged the panchayat to revoke its licenses.
Rui Manuel Araujo of Chicalim sought to know the number of towers installed in the village.
Sarpanch Marie Mascarenhas informed that about four towers are erected in the village and all have valid licenses.
The villagers residing near Regina Mundi HS were vexed as they clamed that the new mobile tower was erected without taking the residents into confidence.
They alleged that the radiation from the mobile tower is harmful to the students and residents staying near the school.
The sarpanch informed the villagers that the tower was erected at the school only after due permission from the school authority. The villagers alleged that the panchayat has failed to take the residents into confidence and it should be removed from the site citing health problems.
Advocate Albino Vales suggested that the panchayat should form a six-member committee of the villagers and after inspecting all the towers and based on the findings of the committee, necessary action should be initiated in the matter.
The residents also hotly deliberated on the issue of reclamation of land by a company at Chicalim.
The members sought to know what action the panchayat has initiated against the company for reclaiming about 5,000 sq mtrs of land.
Secretary Narayan Azgaokar informed that the matter is with the Deputy Director of Panchayat and the panchayat cannot do anything.
Adv Vales informed Azgaokar that since the matter was with the Deputy Director of Panchayats, it does not mean that the panchayat cannot initiate any action. Adv Vales informed the gram sabha that he has gone through the file and the sarpanch had assured him to initiate action against the company.
Ligorio Monterio sought suspension of the licenses issued to the company, while Rui Manuel Araujo demanded to cancel the licenses.
The sarpanch stated that the panchayat cannot cancel or revoke the license.
