Navelim to tax landlords renting out houses

MARGAO: Navelim had its first gram sabha after the panchayat elections on Sunday. 

In a laudable move, the gram sabha passed a resolution to collect the taxes from the landlords letting their houses to the migrants. The gram sabha has also opposed amalgamation of any part of the panchayat into Margao town.

Anger was expressed against the spree of mega housing and commercial projects in the village and the gram sabha also opposed amalgamation into Margao city, its border areas. The gram sabha decided not to allow any more big buildings.

“The people of Navelim do not have regular water, electricity supply, garbage and sewage management. Navelkaars don’t want Margao city to take over any parts of the village, as there have been reports that Navelim, Davorlim, Aquem Baixo may be brought into Margao in the near future,” Siddharth Karapurkar said.

The issue of garbage at Navelim dominated and the gram sabha has shown readiness to have composting facility to produce biogas on trial basis. A model of the equipment was also displayed.

The gram sabha alleged that the construction of national highway destroyed irrigation canal and water bodies in the Navelim area and the gram sabha demanded an FIR against the same.

An allegation that mobile towers which are about to be erected within the panchayat jurisdiction have allegedly been done by bypassing the panchayat and hence it was resolved not to permit the towers. The gram sabha also planned to identify land and give for the same if there is a need. 

The gram sabha also opposed bringing Goa under Delhi NGT jurisdiction instead of keeping it under Pune or Gujarat NGT bench.