MARGAO: The Cana-Benaulim gram sabha on Sunday besides objecting to the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification amendment also resolved against constructing a hospital in an area designated as open space. The villagers also resolved to ask the Fisheries Department to construct a cold storage unit at the prawn hatchery.
The villagers pointed out that no fisherman lives within 50 mts of the High Tide Line and hence argued that the amendment to the CRZ notification was not in the interest of the locals but aimed at helping the hoteliers and others.
Besides, they pointed out that Benaulim has not been classified as a coastal village and hence resolved to ask the government to recognize Benaulim as a coastal village.
The government’s plan to have a 12- bedded hospital as part of the health centre at Benaulim hit a roadblock as the gram sabha objected to the site where the said hospital is proposed to be constructed. They pointed out that the place where the hospital is proposed to be constructed is earmarked an open space and no construction can be allowed in such space.
The gram sabha also resolved to ask the Fisheries Department to construct a cold storage in the space available at the prawn hatchery unit so that local fishermen could store their catch and sell it at a better price later on instead of being forced to sell at throw away prices due to lack of facilities for storage of fish.
The villagers also urged the panchayat to collect information on the migrants living in the village instead of relying merely on the stranger forms submitted to the police stations. The Sarpanch Diella Fernandes informed that all panchayat members have been asked to survey their wards to get the information of people staying in rental premises.
Asserting that the Western Bypass would cause havoc for the villager, the gram sabha members urged the panchayat to join hands with Seraulim panchayat to challenge this project in the court.
The villagers also urged the panchayat to promote football in the village by organising inter-ward tournament and asked the panchayat to consult previous footballers to chalk out a plan. They pointed out that locals are not getting to play in the 3rd Division matches as the football clubs get outside players to improve their chances.
The gram sabha also objected to the TDR which they said was aimed at helping the builders and real estate agents who have already purchased areas like hills and fields and they would now be able to transfer their rights to recover the money they had invested in the land that could not be developed.
The gram sabha also approved the Panchayat Development Plan that focused mostly on desilting wells and nallhs and improving drains and roads besides constructing retaining walls, storm water drains and playgrounds.
