VASCO: The Cansaulim- Arossim-Cuelim gram sabha on Sunday abruptly ended over the issue of proposed hotel project in Arrosim.
The gram sabha had to be adjourned midway after Sarpanch Martha Saldanha walked out of the sabha following a heated discussion with a few members.
The meeting started with the confirmation of minutes of previous gram sabha. The villagers raised their objection to the confirmation of minutes citing that the sarpanch should not instruct any gram sabha member to propose or second the proposal to confirm the minutes and it should be voluntarily done by the members. However, the same was confirmed by the Sarpanch.
The question, which was deferred at the last gram sabha, was placed again during Sunday’s gram sabha wherein the members had asked the panchayat whether the gram sabha resolutions are binding on it or not and the panchayat had sought time to reply to the same.
The moment the Sarpanch started explaining the gram sabha rules, the members raised objections stating that the sarpanch is not giving them a specific reply and is trying to divert the issue.
There were noisy scenes when the issue of the proposed hotel project in the village was discussed forcing the sarpanch to conclude the meeting abruptly.
“I was supposed to explain to them on each of their questions but they never gave me an opportunity to do so. Hence, I had to conclude the meeting. For what are they coming here and to disturb whose peace? As long as I am here, I will not entertain them,” Sarpanch Martha Saldanha informed the reporters after abruptly concluding the gram sabha.
Speaking to reporters, the villagers alleged that the panchayat has been trying to misguide them as the court had not asked the panchayat to give licence to the proposed hotel project but had only asked the local body to decide on it. Being the village head, the Sarpanch had to decide whether the villagers are able to take load of another hotel when the existing infrastructure is not enough to cater to the needs of the locals.
‘We don’t have proper roads, electricity or water and that is why we don’t want a third hotel in our village and that is why we had passed several resolutions opposing the hotel projects since last ten years. Yet without checking the previous resolutions, this panchayat has given licence to the hotel project. We have opposed this hotel and will continue to do so in future,” a gram sabha member warned.
