MARGAO: The Benaulim Village Panchayat’s Sunday gram sabha witnessed yet another chaotic scene ending with a decision of holding a special gram sabha on May 5, which will solely discuss the issues of western bypass to be built on stilts and locals objections to the ongoing work of laying sewerage line.
The gram sabha that lasted for nearly two and half hours saw the panchayat body and villagers being at loggerheads with each other over why this meeting was an ordinary gram sabha and not special gram sabha as they had requested.
The locals pointed out that over 1,100 people from Benaulim had signed a letter that had been sent by John Barretto to the panchayat asking to hold a special gram sabha.
At the meeting, several gram sabha members pointed out that the Salcete Block Development Officer (BDO) had even directed the Benaulim Panchayat to hold a special gram sabha under Section 5 (5) of the Goa Panchayati Raj Act.
However, despite all this, the locals were livid that the panchayat had still gone ahead and were conducting an ordinary gram sabha as per the notice the panchayat had published.
While the panchayat body was criticised and accused of playing delaying tactics against the wishes of public, the Panchayat Secretary, Deputy Sarpanch and another panch defended their actions and said they were following procedures.
The panchayat body added that they had held a meeting on April 5, where they had decided to hold this ordinary gram sabha and that the petitions from the locals came to them on April 18.
They added that in between they had received the government’s circular to hold another type of gram sabha that was held last month, which is why the gram sabha was held on May 1 and not earlier. The panchayat body also said that the issues of the western bypass and sewerage line were part of the agenda of this meeting.
However, after much to and fro between the panchayat and locals, the gram sabha members took a call amongst themselves and objected to the ordinary gram sabha from being continued as they pointed out that the minutes of the previous meeting were wrong and missed out important proposals that the locals had submitted earlier.
Thus, it was decided that this ordinary gram sabha be adjourned to next Sunday, May 8, where the minutes of previous meeting would be confirmed and that another special gram sabha only on the western bypass and sewerage issue be held on May 5. There were also appeals to the panchayat body to invite the local MLA for the meeting as he can take it up with the State Cabinet.
Royla Feranndes, who has approached the High Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) asked the panchayat body to get all the information required and bring it for the special gram sabha meeting so as to help respond to the queries the people have and also help people of Benaulim in their fight in the courts.
Another local also asked the panchayat to bring the People’s Biodiversity Registrar (PBR) of Benaulim which would have details of wetland and other eco-sensitive areas that will be affected by the western bypass.
The meeting witnessed a lot of allegations against the panchayat body and secretary amidst questions about what the panchayat had been doing all these years to oppose the western bypass and take up the people’s objections against the sewerage line.
