BENAULIM: Benaulim villagers have decided to continue with their demand western bypass on stilts and won’t allow discharge of treated sewage water from Colva STP into River Sal.
Villagers feared that constructing western bypass by land filling and releasing treated sewage water into the River Sal from the proposed Colva Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) won’t help them in fulfilling the sustainable development goals.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Several villagers were initially shocked to hear that the special gram sabha called by the panchayat on Sunday was not for discussing the burning issues of western bypass and sewage pipeline. The meeting was called to discuss the goals to be achieved in the next two years as directed by the Directorate of Panchayat to celebrate the Panchayat Raj Day. However, the two above issues came up for discussion while discussing the themes for their village.
Social activist and former sarpanch Royla Fernandes brought to the notice of the panchayat and the gram sabha members about the importance of protecting the local ecology. Roque Fernandes, former sarpanch John Barretto besides several other villagers too resolved to give first priority to demand for western bypass on stilts and not to allow release of treated sewage water into the River Sal to prevent further contamination.
Explaining the topic to the members Royla said the water bodies were getting contaminated, and in view to protect the groundwater, it was necessary to protect the water bodies in the village from sewage, even though treated.
We are demanding that treated sewage water shouldn’t be released into the river as it would adversely affect fish breeding,” she stated.
Agriculture being the primary source of sustenance in Goan villages, the gram sabha discussed the need to protect agriculture lands, especially at the western bypass site at Tolleaband, wherein after the reclamation of acquired lands, the unacquired lands too will be rendered uncultivable due to the destruction that will be caused by the construction activity. According to the villagers western bypass on stilts would resolve all the issues.
At the same time villagers expressed anger over the absence of Deputy Sarpanch Nilesh Prabhudesai. They also charged him for taking the credit of movement against the sewage pipeline.
“Being chairman of the Benaulim Biodiversity Committee, he should have shown more concern than the villagers. But he failed to take up the issue of western bypass and sewage pipeline seriously,” villagers charged.
Explaining further Royla said the global warming scenario is at an alarming peak. The wet lands of Benaulim are being reclaimed for western bypass, which are the carbon sinks of the village. Bypass on stilts would maintain the carbon sinks reduce the carbon emitted by the vehicular emission.
Villagers of Benaulim further resolved to plant a tree and help protect the environment.
“Open spaces are the lungs of the village and creating urban gardens will help combat climate change. Benaulim panchayat has open spaces which can be revived to increase the quality of air and protect the environment,” villagers suggested.
Villagers also gave several suggestions pertaining to the theme of a poverty free panchayat, to ensure healthy lives, a village with functional house tap connections to all, social security systems and other topics.
Meanwhile, Villagers of Benaulim on Sunday marked Panchayat Raj Day by unanimously resolving to achieve a clean and green village for the future of their children at a special gram sabha meeting.
The Government of Goa has given seven broad themes to all village panchayats under ‘sustainable government goals’ for village development, out of which every panchayat has to select three themes, which has to be uploaded on Vibrant Gram Sabha portal.
The Benaulim village panchayat has selected ‘Healthy lives and well-being for all at all age groups; ‘Achieve self-sufficient infrastructure and ensure access for all adequate, safe and affordable housing, and basic services; ‘Creating a village for the future of our children, which is lush and green with nature’s bounty, using renewable energy, clean, protecting environment and climate resilient’.
Citing the reasons for selecting these themes, Benaulim villagers said they strongly felt that water bodies, agricultural land, ecology and biodiversity should be protected from destruction.
Many of the villagers stressed on the issues with regard to senior citizens, fishing community, jobs to local youth in hotels located in the village of Benaulim, upgradation of playgrounds, use of solar energy, etc.
