Team Herald
MARGAO: Eleven villages in Salcete and seven in Mormugao have taken with a pinch of salt, the direction of the BDO to the panchayats to convene an extra ordinary gram sabha meeting to discuss the issue of mobile towers in residential areas on September 11.
The BDO had directed 18 panchayats in both the talukas to convene special gram sabhas to get their approvals for setting up 61 mobile towers ahead of the forthcoming BRICS summit in Goa on October 15-16.
The BDO direction stated that various experts, including the Goa State Pollution Control Board, are expected to explain to gram sabha members about the technical aspects of providing good quality network. The BDO had asked the villagers to allow the experts to address them and hear what they have to say.
As per the BDO, nine cell sites have been proposed in Benaulim followed by six in Chicalim, five each in Sancoale, Carmona, Cavellossim, and Colva; and four in Orlim. Three sites each are proposed in Bogmalo, Nagao, Varca and Verna while two sites each in Navelim, Velsao and Assolna followed by one each in Velim, Majorda and Arossim.
Villagers say that they are in no mood to listen to officials of GSPCB and the representatives of service providers, who they called as “unofficial mobile tower salesman” not interested in addressing the issues and concerns raised by the villagers.
The villagers lamented that the government is using the BRICS summit to pursue the unholy agenda of the tower companies and the hotel lobby. Villagers across the two talukas feel that they have a right to decide what is best for their villages; their concerns and resolutions need to be respected by the government and the tower companies
“Villagers of Carmona protesting against Reliance Jio have vowed to up their ante against the proposed towers by uniting all the village groups and take a common stand on the issue as BRICS summit cannot be used simply to cut trees, break walls, houses and now force mobile towers on the villagers through the back door without following laid down procedures,” said activist Allwyn George.
“The timing of the gram sabha also seems to be suspicious considering the Ganesh festival season. Considering the elections and this being a sensitive issue, the stand taken by the local MLA’s in these constituencies and the various political parties is awaited by the villagers,” added Allwyn.
As most of the villages are bound to stick to their opposition to the towers in residential areas at the proposed gram sabha on September 11, the next action of the government will be closely watched.
