Team Herald
MARGAO: Carmona’s Sunday gram sabha was adjourned by the sarpanch when the meeting started becoming chaotic on the issue of mobile towers in the village.
After an initial cordial discussion over garbage management and plans regarding its disposal, the villagers wanted that proper arrangements be notified to the people with a time table and places of garbage collection. Villagers pointed out that garbage needs to be segregated for easy disposal.
Sarpanch informed the members about the chief minister’s meeting and the deadline for the tower erection for BRICS. She placed another site for Reliance Jio for the members to consider for discussion at which villagers led by Allwyn Jorge vociferously countered that the company has to remove their alleged illegal mobile tower disguised as a water tank near the panchayat office before any new site is proposed by the company.
When villagers asked the sarpanch if any new proposal has been considered by the panchayat, she informed that NOCs have been granted for three proposals for permanent towers, while one more proposal is under consideration. Following this disclosure, villagers resolved to have a site inspection of the sites before any clearance is granted for the same.
Expressing their deep anguish over Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s “weapons” statement, villagers opined that the gram sabha is the most supreme in the village.
Villagers have vowed not to allow Reliance Jio in Carmona until they removed their alleged ‘illegal tower’ erected without NOC from the panchayat.
Later, chaos erupted when other groups also wanted to erect towers in their own property due to which the meeting had to be abruptly ended.
Speaking to the media after the gram sabha, Carmona villager Allwyn Jorge informed they plan to meet local MLA Caitu D’Silva and the chief minister to force Reliance Jio to remove it mobile tower in Carmona and “we will provide an alternate site for them agreeable to all.”
