MARGAO: The Carmona gram sabha scheduled for April 7 is expected to be quite an important one going by the agenda. Besides approving the budget, the gram sabha is also expected to discuss the proposal to convert land classified as eco-1 for eco-tourism and the jurisdiction of Zalor beach.
The gram sabha is scheduled to discuss the proposal made by M/s Bullion Infrastructure to convert 90,000 square metres of land from paddy fields, water body and mangroves to eco-tourism. In fact, Carmona Sarpanch Allwyn Jorge along with former sarpanch Savita Mascarenhas had called on TCP Minister Vijai Sardessai on March 25 over the same matter.
Assuring that eco-sensitive zone would not be changed which meant that paddy fields and mangroves would not be touched, Vijai stated that the government policy of permitting land conversion for eco-tourism would remain put.
Besides, the gram sabha is also supposed to discuss the letter written by power minister proposing that the department take over streetlights. This proposal is likely to evoke very strong objection from the people who are quite agitated that presently the streetlights are not being maintained properly by the agency to which it has been outsourced.
Two other contentious issues that featured at previous gram sabhas are also to be taken up for discussion and these pertain to the ambulance presented to the panchayat under the MPLAD scheme and Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation’s proposal for the construction of football ground in the village.
The gram sabha is also scheduled to discuss the jurisdiction of Zalor beach which the neighbouring Varca panchayat claims to be having jurisdiction over. Varca referring to survey plans and documents argues that Zalor is a ward in Carmona and the land to the west of this ward is part of the Fatrade beach of Varca which is wrongly called Zalor beach.
