VASCO: The gram sabha members of Chicolna-Bogmalo panchayat have slammed the state government for its decision to change the status of the coconut tree. The members also warned the government against playing with the sentiments of the people with regards to the coconut tree, which is the State’s identity.
The gram sabha also passed a resolution to oppose the RP2021 in its present form and to scrap the same. Besides these, several other important decisions were taken in the gram sabha meeting held on Sunday.
The meeting started with the confirmation of minutes of previous gram sabha and presentation of annual budget of the panchayat. While discussing the issue of changing the status of coconut tree, the gram sabha member unanimously objected to the government decision. They said that the coconut tree is symbolises the identity of Goans and by changing its status, the government is trying to play with the sentiments of Goans at large. The members said that such decision would only benefit the builder lobby and land sharks, as more and more trees would be allowed to cut; therefore, the government should rethink on the same.
While discussing the Regional Plan 2021, the gram sabha unanimously resolved to oppose the plan in its current form. The sarpanch claimed that his office had suggested several changes to RP 2021, but till date the panchayat has not received any communication from the officials concerned as to what has happened to the suggestions made and there is total confusion with regard to RP 2021.
“Firstly, our area falls under the jurisdiction of Planning and Development Authority (PDA) and the Mormugao PDA has finalised an Outline Development Plan (ODP). We are not sure whether our suggestions or objections would be included in the RP 2021 of our village or not. We haven’t received any reply from the department concerned. Thus, we all have unanimously resolved to oppose the RP2021 in its current form,” said Sarpanch Laxman Kavlekar.
Amongst other major decision, the panchayat turned down the objections made by the residents of Santerant in Chicolna-Bogmalo. The residents had registered their opposition against the decision of the panchayat setting up a garbage plant in their area but the sarpanch claimed that there was no alternate land for such purpose and thus the panchayat would go ahead with its decision. While discussing CRZ issues, few villagers claimed that due to CRZ Act many traditional fishermen are facing hardships as they are not allowed to carry out any construction.
The members suggested that the panchayat should request the government to relax the rules by amending the CRZ Act. It was also proposed to ask the Vasco traffic police to deploy a policeman at the ‘accident prone’ Dabolim junction. It was also proposed that the panchayat should seek permission from government to regularize few illegal structures in their village and to further impose house tax on them.
