BICHOLIM: The non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from Mayem have strongly opposed the move of the local panchayat to grant more licences to bars in the village and have threatened to intensify their agitation if more bars come up in the village.

Speaking at a press conference, Bharat Swabhiman Mayem President Kamlakant Tari said that they are opposing the move of some of the panchas in granting NOCs to new bars in the village.

“There are already 60 bars in the panchayat and out of which 41 are legal while the rest are illegal,” Tari said adding, “We have voiced this issue in the gram sabhas, but still some panchas are supporting the new bars.”

Mayem Bhu Vimochan Samiti President Kashinath Mayekar said that they have already resolved in the panchayat that no new NOCs should be given for bars. 

“Way back in 2000, when I was panch, we had resolved that no new licences would be given to bars as they destroy the entire family. Since then, no NOCs were issued by the panchayat but now there are moves to support some of the bar owners and give new licences to people,” Mayekar said.

He said that in every gram sabha they have opposed NOCs and if the panchayat still grants new NOCs they would have to come on the streets. “There are several families which are ruined because of bars which are operating in the village and if new bars comes up it would add fuel to the fire,” Mayekar warned.

Ex-panch Sakharam Pednekar said that they would strongly oppose any move by the panchayat to give NOCs to new bars. 

“We demand that even the illegal bars which are operating in the village should be closed. If new bars come up in Mayem, we would collectively come on the streets and oppose the bars,” Pednekar threatened.