PONDA: The Kavlem gram sabha has demanded construction of public toilets near Shantadurga Temple for the benefit of tourists and women visiting the temple.
The gram sabha observed that tourists and women visiting the temple have been facing inconvenience in the absence of a toilet facility there.
The gram sabha also took cognisance of the a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by a local Damodar Krishna Naik about the lack of toilet facility at the temple, encroachment on main road by kiosks, garbage littered at tourist places and the inaction of the panchayat and sarpanch on these issues.
When issue came for discussion, Sarpanch Rajesh Kavlekar appreciated the local for writing a letter to Modi and brining the matter to the notice of the panchayat.
He said that notice about encroachment by kiosks on road near the temple has been served and that all the kiosks operating on the road would also be cleared.
“A spot where garbage is littered at Kavlem tourist site has been identified and action will be taken,” Kavlekar said.
He lamented that despite writing several letters to the Tourism Department, the agency was not taking action to provide toilet facility to tourists. “There are toilets constructed by tourism Department but are in dilapidated state for more than decade and of no use,” he said.
“We have complained to our local MLA Sudin Dhavalikar about the lack of cooperation from Tourism Department in building toilets at the Shantadurga Temple. Besides, the panchayat is also finding it difficulty in getting NOC from the temple committee to construct toilet facility is the main hurdle,” he said.
He informed that the issue of getting NOC would be discussed with the temple committee as a letter has been received from PM office to solve the issues of public interest.
The villagers also demanded traffic police at Kavlem as there is witness frequent traffic congestion on narrow roads.
It was also resolved in the gram sabha to encourage farmers to cultivate the fallow paddy fields in the village with the cooperation of the panchayat.
The sarpanch informed that the panchayat does not have land of its own and recently one Uday Kavlekar donated 500 square metre of land for a health centre and a library building.
He also informed that though some people opposed sewerage plant at Kavlem in court, it would be ready in one year time.
