MAPUSA: St Thomas Girls High School at Aldona has rejected the proposal of the local panchayat to shift the village market complex to the school property.
This was communicated to the gram sabha on Sunday Sarpanch Francis D’Souza, which started with the reading the minutes of the previous meeting.
D’Souza also informed that panchayat has not received any official letter proposing to declare the village as urban area. Following this, the meeting decided to discuss the issue at the next gram sabha scheduled on March 1.
The long pending issue of Aldona Market complex was bought to discussion when panchayat received letter from St Thomas Girls High School and PTA objecting the proposal to shift the market complex in the property of the said school.
School authorities and parents highlighted that shifting of market complex in the property of school which is exactly opposite to the st Thomas girls high school will not be accepted since shifting of commercial project right opposite to girls school will disturb the peace of the school and also the safety and security of the school children’s will be compromised leading to increased exposure to incidents like eve teasing, exposure to strangers, unhealthy eating and drinking habits, sexual offences since once the market is shifted here, it will lead to movement of people in this area.
Parents and school authorities also said that if the market is shifted opposite to school than it will lead to traffic issues, risk of accidents, Community problems and more which will affect the school children.
Parents also suggested that by dropping the proposal to shift the market in property of school, the acquired land can be utilised to set up alternate project like sports and playing zone.
Responding to which the people suggested that instead of shifting the market, the existing market building should be demolished and reconstructed.
On this, Sarpanch D’Souza said that to take up the reconstruction of existing market, the market building has to be vacated by the people who are running the shops. He appealed to the shop owners to cooperate in vacating the shop to undertake the project work. Sarpanch also informed that reconstruction of the project was waiting for NOC from the church. However, the panchayat will again put forward a proposal before the church on the market project.
The issue of increasing garbage tax was also discussed. The last gram sabha in January was adjourned after the villagers demanded the panchayat to provide details of income and expense incurred on garbage management. With regards to that, the panchayat on Sunday provided details of the expense and income. However, the villagers have now given time till March for the panchayat to survey all the houses and dwellings that do not pay the garbage tax and accordingly increase garbage tax.
