MARGAO: Drawing the attention of villagers towards the ongoing destruction to the local ecology, the Assolna Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) Chairperson, Fredrick Borges urged the villagers to help protect the village’s environment.
Borges has placed written submissions before the gram sabha for further discussion in this regard. Borges alleged that agricultural fields and water bodies have been destroyed by illegal construction. He also called for the protection of water bodies to eco-balance the village
ecosystem by rejuvenating the water bodies keeping in mind the growing population and rising temperature.
Referring to the multiple structures mushrooming along the riverside, Borges enquired if the panchayat is aware if the natural bodies like River Sal is safe and protected and whether
the panchayat had initiated any measures to safeguard the river due to prevailing pollution.
Meanwhile, the gram sabha was adjourned till coming Sunday as there were two issues that could not be resolved in the meeting – the first being about the budget and the second was about house numbers.
The budget estimates for the 2023-24 financial year could not be approved at the gram sabha as the villagers first wanted details on the expenditure incurred on development works.
The villagers also raised questions at the gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Ivan Fernandes, about issuing Enable House Numbers (EH) wherein they demanded that the panchayat not just simply follow the government circular on EHN, but also take cognisance of the provisions of Goa Panchayat Raj Act. It was decided that at the adjourned gram sabha meeting, the budget estimates would be approved then and a resolution would be adopted on the EHN topic.
Regarding the budget, locals grilled the panchayat on the expenditure made by the panchayat on the development works and wanted details of the schedule of work and the expenditure incurred on the panchayat but they did not receive any satisfactory response.
