TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Residents of Keri at the gram sabha on Sunday expressed dissatisfaction over panchayat’s alleged failure to solve the water distribution problem in the village.
“I feel the panchayat is not serious about solving the water supply problem in the village. There were many meetings held with the authorities concerned, but what has been done? The panchayat must be firm and question the authorities concerned to get the work done,” said a villager while expressing his displeasure over panchayat’s alleged inaction to solve the water distribution problem in the village.
According to information, since the last many years water from bore wells is supplied to the village as due to some technical difficulties PWD could not supply water from the Opa water treatment plant. The water problem aggravates especially during summer season as residents are dependent on water tankers and continuous pumping of ground water also affects the areca nut plantations in the village.
Residents claimed that recently following agitation, authorities had assured to solve the water distribution problem, but to no avail. “There is some technical difficulty, due to which water cannot be supplied and we have been time and again meeting the authorities concerned over the issue,” said Sarpanch Ashok Gaude.
Not satisfied with the sarpanch’s reply, the villagers demanded that the sarpanch should get in writing from the authorities as to what exactly is the problem and when it will be solved. Later, villagers asked the sarpanch to put before them action taken during the gram sabha which will be held on January 26.
Since the area is already facing water shortage, villagers during the gram sabha passed a resolution to stop water supply to commercial establishments through tankers. “Let the commercial establishments bring water tankers separately as people don’t get water. Preference should have been given to the residents but here water is being diverted to commercial establishments,” claimed villagers.
Villagers also asked the panchayat to do a survey as to how many houses in the village get water regularly as there were complaints of water not being supplied to some houses.
Residents also raised concerns over alleged grabbing of vast area of Keri comunidade land in the village.
According to villagers, recently some people were engaged in installing barbed wire however following objection from the residents the work was stopped. Villagers passed a resolution to ask details of the land documents and what work is being undertaken in the area which is identified as no development zone.
Villagers also a passed resolution pertaining to various PWD works, where villagers demanded that the department concerned should obtain a NOC from the panchayat for works.
Residents claimed that the panchayat is unaware of what works are being undertaken by the PWD in the village and alleged that some developmental works were done for the benefit of certain individuals.
Another resolution was passed to request the State government to declare the February 17 as Hutatma Din in memory of Martyr 27-year-old freedom fighter Suresh Kerkar of Keri who died in Goa’s freedom struggle on February 17.
