Calangute residents demand proper draining system
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
CALANGUTE, OCT 24
The Calangute Gram Sabha on Sunday deliberated on various issues, including the drainage issue, which was hotly debated.
Initiating the deliberations on the drainage issue, the gram sabha members accused the Calangute Panchayat of not being able to put a drainage system in place, which causes water logging.
When one of the gram sabha members sought to know the reasons behind it, Panch Joseph Sequeira said: “The PWD for reasons best known to them have been obstructing our initiatives, be it drainage construction near the panchayat or the Inas Paul House or roads.”
“We have even written to PWD, but till date, the department has failed to reply. Perhaps, PWD do not want the Calangute Panchayat to carry out any development for the village,” claimed Sequeira.
Jose Braganza raised the issue of garbage in and around the market area and asked the Calangute Panchayat to look into the matter on priority basis. Ward member Laxman Porob Palyekar informed that the market cleanliness has been taken up on war footing and drainage will be put in place soon.
Sarpanch Alex Fernandes said some people are letting their septic waste through the drains and the labour employed in carrying out the work finds it difficult to carry out the work in inhuman conditions. He however assured to do the required jobs immediately.
Anthony D’Souza raised the issue of beggars in the village causing nuisance to the villagers and bringing bad name to Calangute village.
In his reply, Alex Fernandes said police are also helpless in arresting and driving them away. However, Anthony suggested to the sarpanch that panchayat arrest them and hand them over to a NGO, who will take care of them during their lifetime, which was accepted by the sarpanch.
Cyril D’Souza sought to know from the sarpanch the details on the pet projects of the Panchayat, the sewage treatment plant, bus stand and others.
Replying to the member, it was stated that the pet projects would be financed by the Calangute Panchayat and land acquisition process will be started soon, but regretted the inordinate delay for it on flimsy grounds by the departments.
It was also informed that the matter has been pending with the departments for 10 years now.
Earlier, after panchayat Secretary Subodh Prabhu read minutes of the previous gram sabha, Eknath Nagvekar raised the issue of draft Regional Plan and clarified in the matter saying: “I have never asked for conversion of paddy fields into settlement zones, but have asked for Eco-sensitive zone taking into consideration the parking for Church and cemetery.”
Nagvekar regretted that some of the gram sabha members were out to tarnish his image for thinking on good developments like the parking for the Church and cemetery.
Clarifying further, Joseph Sequeira said few gram sabha members have been misleading others with wrong statements that no gram sabha was convened to finalize the draft Regional Plan. “Minutes of the meeting are proof of it,” he said.
Sequeira called upon the members to see for themselves all the documents relating to the draft Regional Plan from the panchayat office.
“We have no plans whatsoever to convert paddy fields into settlement zones in front of St Alex Church and the paddy fields will remain as they are today,” said Sequeira.
